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!

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 2499 signatories
Page 94 of 167
Glenda B. Coalhurst, AB , T0L 0V0
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:48pm
Elena O. Hamilton, ON , L8K 5T5
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:48pm
Anonymous Chilliwack , BC , V2R 4J6
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:47pm
Dave W. Grunthal , MB , R0a0r0
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:47pm
reject the “bubble zone by-law”
Anonymous Charlottetown , PE , C1A3W7
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:47pm
Anonymous Brighton , ON , K0K1H0
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:46pm
Roger Y. Red Deer County, AB , T4E 1C5
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:46pm
Fr John B. Montreal, QC , H2L 3Z3
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:45pm
Such a thing should be unheard-of in a democratic country. Such a Bill should not even be scheduled to be voted upon. Mr Sutcliffe and others, you should be ashamed. This is Canada, don't become fascist!
Kathryn M. Alliston, ON , L9R 0K5
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:45pm
No bubble zones in Ottawa No means no
Anonymous Darlings Island, NB , e5n 6r3
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:45pm
Anonymous Wininpeg, MB , R3T 0W8
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:44pm
There are already laws against hate crimes, It is indeed an attack on freedom of expression and speech to enact such a far reaching law. Criminalizing peaceful protesting citizens is not democracy.
Maureen L. Winnipeg, MB , R3T 3R5
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:43pm
Anonymous Kamloops , BC , V2E1K3
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:43pm
ANTHONY s. nanaimo, BC , V9R6W1
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:43pm
Anonymous Toronto, ON , M5N 1R6
Oct 30, 2024 - 04:42pm