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 71 of 252
Pierre L. Ottawa, ON , K4C 1K9
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:15pm
Anonymous St. Marys, ON , N4X 1C4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:15pm
Draconian!
Vernon Angus M. Victoria, BC , V8S 3N7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:15pm
Anonymous Markdale, ON , N0C1H0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:15pm
Pamela R. White Rock, BC , V4B 2P7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:14pm
Deb H. , ON , N2N 2N4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:14pm
Anonymous Durham, ON , N0G1R0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:14pm
Anonymous Guelph, ON , N1E5J5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:13pm
NATHAN B. OTTAWA, ON , K0A1K0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:13pm
Michelle J. Sarnia , ON , N7S 4J9
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:12pm
Glen R. Barrie, ON , L4N 8C5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:12pm
Anonymous Langley, BC , V1M 4B6
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:12pm
Clyde J T. Woodstock, ON , N4T 0B7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:11pm
This sounds like a communist idea.
Kenneth G. Walkerton , ON , N0G2V0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:11pm
No bubble zones needed . Free speech with no harrasement
Anonymous Sudbury, ON , P3E3B7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:10pm