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 60 of 251
Dennis C. Penticton, BC , V2A 4L8
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:14pm
Anonymous -----------------, , ------------------
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:13pm
The proposed bubble zone by-law is an affront to every Canadian's free speech rights in the Canadian Charter.Period. Full stop.
Grace W. Edmonton, AB , T6T 0E9
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:13pm
Protect free speech!
Anonymous Markham, ON , L3P 8N1
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:13pm
This is going too far.
John S. Waterdown ?, ON , L8b1h2
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:13pm
Carol B. Slave Lake, AB , T0G2A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:12pm
Anonymous Edmonton, AB , T6H 5G9
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:11pm
Colleen L. Scarborough , ON , M1B4E6
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:10pm
Anonymous New Hamburg, ON , N3A 3S6
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:10pm
Richard A. Coquitlam, BC , V3K4C7
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:10pm
Dr. Vernon R. Edmonton, AB , T5A 4T8
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:09pm
We live in a democracy; please practise it!
Vashti A. Fort McMurray, AB , T9K1V2
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:09pm
Anonymous Toronto , ON , M1W1B7
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:08pm
Jim O. Truro, NS , B2N 1G5
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:08pm
Anonymous Maidstone , ON , N0r1k0
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:08pm