Protecting Vulnerable Spaces

There's been a lot of recent discussion in the community about the prospect of Ottawa implementing a bylaw to protect vulnerable spaces. Over the course of the past few weeks, I've been consulting with and listening to community representatives, a wide range of faith leaders, local MPs and MPPs, members of the LGBTQ community, healthcare professionals, and parents.

The message I've heard is that we need to take a very careful, balanced, and strategic approach to this issue. The community expects us to defend the right to protest while protecting vulnerable institutions and individuals from threats and intimidation.

It's important to remember that any proposed bylaw must go through a careful public consultation process. The goal must be to have very clearly and narrowly defined situations when a bylaw would apply, minimal distance restrictions, and clarity that traditional demonstrations and political protests must be allowed to continue where they do not directly intimidate or impact the safety and freedom of movement of residents, children, and seniors.

I will support what the community is asking for: an approach that allows safe access to schools, places of worship, hospitals, and care homes, while preserving our Charter-protected rights to free speech and protest, an approach that enhances safety, fosters community trust through fair enforcement, an approach that continues to explicitly allow labour demonstrations at workplaces as well as protests outside City Hall, Parliament, embassies, and other important democratic institutions.

I look forward to continuing the discussion with the community and with my colleagues on Ottawa city council.