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!

Do you wish to send a postcard?

(Note: If you choose Yes, CLC will mail a physical postcard, pictured here, in your name, to the petition target(s). You'll be asked to donate $1.75 toward the cost of postage & printing)

Postcard Sample

Signatures

Thus far 3767 signatories
Page 72 of 252
Derek F. Windsor, ON , N8X3Z8
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:10pm
W BRUCE M. Calgary, AB , T2G 1N9
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:10pm
Anonymous Lombardy, ON , K0G 1L0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:10pm
Linda W. Vancouver , BC , V6A 0E1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:10pm
Anonymous Foothills, AB , T1s 3r4
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:10pm
It's time to bring back the "Constitutional" rights in the Constitutional Monarchy! Otherwise it's a dictatorship!...which it currently is!
Fabian D. Kelowna, BC , V1Y9X8
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:09pm
I and all Canadians must support free speech!
Anonymous Ottawa, ON , K2B 5K8
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:08pm
Free speech needs firm and distinct protection otherwise we end up on the slippery slope of losing our democracy and all freedoms
Wendy G. Courtice, ON , L1E0A6
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:08pm
Roxanne K. Pickering, ON , L1Y0A7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:08pm
John K. Mississauga, ON , L5L1G5
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:08pm
Sheryl E. Calmar, AB , T0C 0V0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:08pm
Stop the Palestine protest. They are burning our flag and saying death to Canadians. Deport them. Let true Canadians have their peaceful protests.
len g. Wilno, ON , K0J 2N0
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:07pm
Elaine V. Greely, ON , K4P1M7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:07pm
Anonymous , ON , N4S 8N1
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:07pm
Randy V. Greely, ON , K4P1M7
Jun 5, 2025 - 02:07pm