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 66 of 252
Marilyn J. West Vancouver, BC , V7V 1B9
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:37pm
Eleanore W. Winnipeg, Manitoba, MB , R2P 1J2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:37pm
Mr. Mayor Sutcliffe, please stop political censorship. Canadians need a level playing field.
FAYE H. North Vancouver, BC , V7M1Y1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:36pm
Anonymous Love, SK , S0J1P0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:36pm
Jan W. Komoka, ON , N0L 1R0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:36pm
Dagmar D. Jarvis, ON , N0A 1J0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:36pm
Betty H. Toronto, ON , M9W 6A7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:35pm
I heartily support this petition.
Sylvia O. Arnprior , ON , K7S 2Z1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:35pm
Dennis Z. Leduc , AB , T9E 8N7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:34pm
We’re getting to be a real third world communist country
Louise P. Edmonton, AB , T6L 1E4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:34pm
This violates our freedom of speech.
Sheilagh P. Riverview , NB , E1B0P7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:34pm
Shelby B. Smithville, ON , L0R 2A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:34pm
Anonymous Didsbury, AB , T0M0W0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:34pm
Henry H. Hamilton, ON , L8T 3A5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:34pm
Claude-Henri C. Dieppe, NB , E1A 2C2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:33pm