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 3767 signatories
Page 67 of 252
Claude-Henri C. Dieppe, NB , E1A 2C2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:33pm
Catherine N. Toronto, ON , M1M 1L5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:32pm
Let's protect democracy. Uphold the Charter.
Ellen C. Chetwynd, BC , V0C1J0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:32pm
Anonymous Edmonton , AB , T5Z2Z3
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:32pm
Robert W. Whitby , ON , L1R 2E4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:31pm
faith l t. St. Adolphe, MB , R5A 1B2
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:31pm
Anonymous Toronto , ON , M4a 1p6
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:31pm
Jan H. KINGSTON, ON , K7M 0L1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:30pm
I support petition. Wyyne was terrible alongside Trudeau
Max P. Bradford, ON , L3Z1P7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:29pm
Anonymous Ottawa, ON , K1G 3P6
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:29pm
This isn't Communist China.
Mary B. Red Deer County, AB , T4E1S1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:28pm
Anonymous Wyoming , ON , N0N1T0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:28pm
Anonymous Guelph , ON , N1G 1V7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:28pm
Anonymous Windsor, ON , N9G 1L6
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:28pm
Free speech everywhere in Canada is the law and must remain in force despite those who want to silence other. Do you want your opinion and speech outlawed? No, you do not. Neither does anyone else. Keep freedom of speech everywhere in Canada. Do what is right.
Astrid N. Cobourg, ON , K9A 3T6
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:27pm
This is totally unconstitutional.