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 3766 signatories
Page 62 of 252
Margaret N. Kinburn, ON , K0A2H0
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:01pm
Anonymous Chilliwack, BC , V2R 4S2
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:01pm
Rhonda M. Orillia, ON , L3v 1h7
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:00pm
Mary Anne K. Kitchener, ON , N2E1E6
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:00pm
Free speech is the foundation of western civilization.
BERNADETTE T. Rocky View County, AB , T4A3E6
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:00pm
Frances K. Ottawa, ON , K1G 1P7
Jun 5, 2025 - 03:00pm
Anonymous Ajax, ON , L1T 3T1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:58pm
Terry K. Edmonton, AB , T6L 5G2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:58pm
Anonymous Peterborough, ON , K9H 1E7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:57pm
Anca G. TORONTO, ON , M2P2H1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:55pm
This is absolutely redundant. There is no reason for a new bylaw for this. How about protecting life???? Thou shall not murder! Abortion should be illegal.
Anonymous Angus, ON , L3W0B7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:55pm
Sherry S. Calgary , AB , T3L 1W6
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:55pm
Anonymous Mississauga, ON , L5V2S9
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:54pm
Josie A. Cambridge , ON , N1T 1X1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:54pm
Gabriel V. Saskatoon , SK , S7J 1G4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:54pm
Uphold freedom of speech and assembly !