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 63 of 252
Cindy V. Barrhead, AB , T7N 1N2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:53pm
Canada was, and is, built on Freedom of Speech! It is preposterous that you should be allowed to take that away from your citizens/voters!! You’ve absolutely lost all your common sense!
Michael B. Sarnia, ON , N7T 5G5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:52pm
Gwendolyn C. Calgary, AB , T3G 1M2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:52pm
Free Speech, cornerstone of Western Civilization.
Mark T. McGregor, ON , N0R1J0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:51pm
ÁNGEL L. ÁVILA, 0 , 05440
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:51pm
Janice C. North Vancouver, BC , V7N 3Y1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:50pm
The idea of banning free speech just because one does not like or agree with what is said is a totalitarian tactic that has no place in Canada. The Canadian Government has guidelines to determine what is unacceptable hate speech cities should not quiet honest and informed dissent.
Anonymous Kapuskasing, ON , P5N 1P2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:50pm
William B. Pickering , ON , L1V 6N3
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:50pm
Michael B. Kingston, ON , K7M 5X5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:50pm
Your proposal is a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. No government has the right to deny us these rights. I, therefore, urge you to deny his proposal. Thank you.
Anonymous kingston, ON , K7M 8J7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:49pm
Sergiy R. Burnaby, BC , v5h4e5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:49pm
Thomas D. Brooks , AB , T1R1B2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:49pm
Allan B. Edmonton, AB , T6W2X7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:49pm
You give more reasons to separate
Christine L. North Bay, ON , P1A 2J4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:48pm
Joanne S. Turner Valley, AB , T0L 2A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:47pm