Petition

Stop Ottawa Bubble Zone By-law

0
3,000
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 2653 signatories
Page 4 of 177
Eileen M. Grimshaw, AB , T0H 1W0
Jan 8, 2025 - 11:47pm
Anonymous Calgary, AB , T2Z 4B9
Jan 8, 2025 - 04:19pm
Gilles G. Ottawa, ON , K1V9N3
Jan 8, 2025 - 12:50pm
Frank R. Innisfail, AB , T4G1E6
Jan 8, 2025 - 12:46pm
Chris D. Powell River, BC , V8A 2C2
Jan 7, 2025 - 09:02pm
Gordon S. Herbert, SK , S0H2A0
Jan 7, 2025 - 08:43pm
Anonymous Scarborough, ON , M1E 1T7
Jan 7, 2025 - 08:22pm
Theresa H. Labrador City, NL , A2V2M2
Jan 7, 2025 - 05:25pm
Anonymous Calgary, AB , T2X 3G7
Jan 7, 2025 - 04:25pm
Mary V. Woodstock, ON , N4S 1W8
Jan 7, 2025 - 08:30am
Sandra G. Mercier, QC , J6r 2n3
Jan 6, 2025 - 05:23pm
I never thought I would see the day that the freedom to gather and/or speak would be threatened. It is beyond outrageous that not only is this allowed to happen but would be considered being put into law. Shame on you who take part in this squashing of freedom.
Stewart H. Brighton, ON , K0K 1H0
Jan 6, 2025 - 11:50am
Barbara H. Brighton, ON , K0K 1H0
Jan 6, 2025 - 11:50am
Allen S. Wainwright, AB , T9W 1T4
Jan 5, 2025 - 09:57pm
Anonymous Regina, SK , S4S3B5
Jan 4, 2025 - 10:24pm