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 64 of 252
GIlles L. WInnipeg, MB , R2H 2X8
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:47pm
Anonymous kingston, ON , K7L4P4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:47pm
Gerald H. London, ON , N6K 2Y4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:47pm
We lived in the Ottawa area for many years and raised our family there, never thinking that City Council could ever pursue a proposal to limit the freedom to assemble together freely nor to express their opinion on matters of public policy, especially with respect to the preservation of human life. It is stunning to see.
Bev M. Agassiz , 0 , V0m1a0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:47pm
Anonymous Contrecoeur, QC , J0L 1C0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:46pm
Anonymous Mrs., ON , M1P 3G4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:46pm
Anonymous Whitby, ON , L1N 9C5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:45pm
Naomi W. London , ON , N6E2V7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:44pm
Jen A. Calgary , AB , T2J 4P8
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:44pm
Anonymous Sherwood Park, AB , T8E1A7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:42pm
The voice of reason is no longer available.
Anonymous St. Albert, AB , T8N 6K1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:42pm
Dianne L. Crossfield , AB , T0m0s0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:42pm
Anonymous Niagara Falls, ON , L2H 3E7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:42pm
Are we no longer allowed to have an opinion in this country any more or pray for whatever cause we desire. What happened to this country being founded on Christian principals and moral? Is Canada no longer a Democracy?
Dawn T. Stony Plain, AB , T7Z1R9
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:41pm
Where’s Common Sense?
Alice H. Moncton, NB , E1C 9Y7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:41pm