Petition

Stop Ottawa Bubble Zone By-law

0
4,000
SIGNATURE GOAL

Ottawa Parliament Hill


TO: Mr. Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa, and all Ottawa City Councillors

Ottawa is the capital city of our nation and, as such, serves as a beacon of our democratic rights and institutions. Your privilege and responsibility, as Ottawa City Councillors, is to guard this heritage. However, with the recent proposal of a new “bubble zone by-law” (the “Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law”), that heritage is under threat.

This far-reaching, undemocratic by-law could restrict lawful protests, demonstrations, rallies, and even conversation and prayer in a 100-metre radius around thousands of locations across the city, encompassing entire city blocks in some cases. Citizens will not be free to express themselves in these public spaces. It will be up to the subjective whims of by-law officers whether a person is saying the “wrong” words, holding the “wrong” sign, or praying the “wrong” prayer within these speech-suppression zones, with outrageous fines of up to $100,000 levied.

If the only purpose of this by-law is to stop criminal activity, as some claim, then it is absolutely redundant. Since the Criminal Code of Canada already prohibits harassment, threats, incitement of violence, and hate crimes, police have the power to halt unlawful protests and to arrest dangerous protesters across the entire city of Ottawa – not just in certain “bubble zones”. All residents are equally protected everywhere under the current law. If police enforcement is a problem, that is the issue you must address.

Otherwise, there is no reason for a new by-law, except to restrict the free expression of opinions and viewpoints that some deem “politically incorrect” or “offensive”.

Ottawa City Council does not have the right to take away our rights in public spaces. Our tax dollars pay for those spaces – they belong to every Canadian, and we should be free to peaceably share our opinions and concerns in those spaces.

After all, according to our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, “Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: ... freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression ... freedom of peaceful assembly...”

According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, it is a “‘fundamental human right’ for people to gather to celebrate or to air grievances, ‘in public and in private spaces, outdoors, indoors and online.’ ... Governments could not prohibit protests by making ‘generalised references to public order or public safety, or an unspecified risk of potential violence.’”

Therefore, I call on you to reject the “bubble zone by-law” (the “Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law”) and to affirm your commitment to guard the rights and freedoms of all Canadians all across the entire city of Ottawa. Anything less is an affront to the heritage of our nation’s capital.

Sign This Petition Now!

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Signatures

Thus far 3762 signatories
Page 49 of 251
Karen T. Courtenay , 0 , V9N7E3
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:05pm
This is communism pure and simple!
Tammy M. Thunder Bay Region, ON , P0T2E0
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:04pm
This is an attack on FREE SPEECH and should never be allowed in CANADA.
Adam & Betty R. Dunnville, ON , N1A 2W5
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:04pm
Brian M. North bay, ON , P1B7d4
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:04pm
Anonymous Cambridge , ON , N1R8K6
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:03pm
Anonymous Richmond Hill, ON , L4C 9S5
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:02pm
Anonymous Kitchener, ON , N2b 2N7
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:02pm
Jeff T. Courtenay, BC , V9N7E3
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:01pm
Do you not believe in freedom of speech? Whats wrong with your head? This is NOT a communist state!!! Please rethink this for your own futures as well as ours!
Elly V. Burgessville, ON , N0J1C0
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:59pm
You are taking it to far,
Gregory W. Scarborough, ON , M1B 1C6
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:59pm
Anonymous Winnipeg , MB , R0E 2A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:58pm
A Bubble Zone removes a Canadian's freedom of speech. Canada is still a free country.... I think.
Karine L. ottawa, ON , K1G1S5
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:58pm
Stop this law. Free speech is a founding principal of Canada and democracy
Anonymous Arnprior , ON , K7s3z8
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:58pm
Anonymous Kitimat, BC , V8C1Y5
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:57pm
David M. Langley, BC , V1M 3A8
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:57pm
I think it will soon be illegal to speak about the lack of free speech