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 3764 signatories
Page 59 of 251
lyse c. Orleans, ON , K1C 5E1
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:23pm
Jane K. Barrie, ON , L4N 0C3
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:22pm
Nial R. Lucan, ON , nom2jm
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:20pm
THESE USFUL IDIOTS SHOULD READ THE BILL OF RIGHT,S AND THE CONSTITUTION??????????
Laura B. Oakville, ON , L6M4V4
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:19pm
Please do not censor those who wish to help women in unplanned pregnancies.
Anonymous PERTH , ON , K7H 0C5
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:19pm
Strongly Support
Ann and Lloyd D. VICTORIA, BC , V9B 0H5
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:17pm
Our capital city should be open to all citizens and especially to voice our concerns
Bonnie Y. Edmonton, AB , T6A1N2
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:17pm
MYRNA P. OTTAWA, ON , K2H 7C5
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:17pm
Garnet B. Surrey, BC , V3V 6Y4
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:16pm
Merv D. Tillsonburg, ON , N4G 5V1
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:15pm
Enough communism already
Anonymous Gull Lake , SK , S0N 1A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:15pm
Anonymous whitby, ON , l1r 1t8
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:15pm
Harry D. Grimsby, ON , L3M 4N8
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:15pm
Jacqueline C. Fort McMurray , AB , T9K 2R3
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:14pm
Mathilde K. Nelson, BC , V1L 0A2
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:14pm