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!

Do you wish to send a postcard?

(Note: If you choose Yes, CLC will mail a physical postcard, pictured here, in your name, to the petition target(s). You'll be asked to donate $1.75 toward the cost of postage & printing)

Postcard Sample

Signatures

Thus far 3763 signatories
Page 54 of 251
Ben S. Saskatoon, SK , S7J3M9
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:09pm
Chris M. Ottawa, ON , K2L 4A5
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:09pm
Anonymous REINFELD, MB , R6W1L3
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:08pm
Anonymous Whitney, ON , K0J2M0
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:08pm
Ken F. Vancouver, BC , V6H 1T7
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:07pm
Thomas N. Barrie, ON , L4N 9K7
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:07pm
Anonymous Stratford, ON , N5A 6S1
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:07pm
Anonymous Port Moody, BC , V3H5A2
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:07pm
Herman V. Aldergrove, BC , V4W 2N3
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:05pm
Phyllis C. Brantford , ON , N3T 6A3
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:05pm
No bubble zones
Anonymous Ancaster, ON , L9G 3X3
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:04pm
Elizabeth M. Saint John , NB , E2N 1R7
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:03pm
Betty M. New Westminster, BC , V3M 2Y1
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:03pm
Albert K. Barrie, Ont, ON , L4M6S8
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:03pm
Doneen Aura B. Manotick, ON , K4M 1L7
Jun 5, 2025 - 04:02pm