Ottawa, May 13, 2025 — Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he is open to supporting a proposed bylaw aimed at protecting vulnerable institutions such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship from harassment and intimidation, while maintaining strong protections for the right to protest.
Mayor Sutcliffe’s Statement
In a Twitter statement issued Tuesday, Mayor Sutcliffe acknowledged the growing public conversation about the need for municipal action following concerns raised by residents, faith leaders, healthcare professionals, and advocacy groups.
“Over the course of the past few weeks, I’ve been consulting with and listening to community representatives,” the mayor said. “The message I’ve heard is that we need to take a very careful, balanced, and strategic approach to this issue.”
The proposed bylaw, which has not yet been formally introduced, would aim to limit protests that directly threaten or intimidate vulnerable populations, particularly around sensitive spaces. Mayor Sutcliffe emphasized that any legislation would need to undergo a rigorous public consultation process and be carefully crafted to avoid infringing on Charter rights. This is in-line with Mayor Sutcliffe’s views about government power and laws regarding civil rights.
“The goal must be to have very clearly and narrowly defined situations when a bylaw would apply,” Sutcliffe said, adding that restrictions should involve minimal distances and provide clarity that political and labour protests must remain permitted in appropriate areas.
While no draft text has been released, Mayor Sutcliffe said he supports a framework that “allows safe access to schools, places of worship, hospitals, and care homes, while preserving our Charter-protected rights to free speech and protest.”
He also reiterated that demonstrations outside democratic institutions like City Hall and Parliament Hill, as well as labour pickets, would remain explicitly protected.
City councillors are expected to take up the issue in the coming weeks, with Sutcliffe pledging to continue working with both the public and council colleagues as discussions advance.
