Ottawa's city council voted on Wednesday to enable city staff to look into the feasibility of implementing a 'bubble bylaw' that could restrict demonstrations near certain community spaces, including schools and hospitals amid an increase in hate crimes. The motion moved by Coun. Allan Hubley and supported by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was passed despite councillors expressing heavy skepticism over the effectiveness of the bylaw and concerns it would impede on the constitutional right to protest.
Twenty-two councillors voted for the motion, with councillors Shawn Menard, Jessica Bradley and Sean Devine voting against after about an hour of debate. The motion will direct staff to consider the feasibility of a "vulnerable social infrastructure" bylaw similar to one passed in the City of Vaughan earlier this year or consider alternate approaches to address harassment and hate speech at demonstrations. Staff will work with the Ottawa Police Service and Bylaw and Regulatory Services to be determine how it would be enforced.
Councillors will consider any recommendations staff make early next year. "I want to let staff know how deeply uncomfortable I am with curtailing the right to protest," said Coun. Jeff Leiper, who voted in favour of the motion.
"Every time we curtail democratic freedoms, we start to step on the turf of those generations of soldiers who died for those freedoms." Vaughan's bubble bylaw restricts demonstrations within 100 metres or "a reasonable distance" from a religio.
