“Won’t give up our right to protest:” OCHU-CUPE hospital workers protest Ottawa’s proposed ‘bubble zone’ by-law

[Link] Hospital workers held a demonstration in Ottawa on Tuesday morning, demanding City Council abandon plans for a 'bubble zone' by-law that would squash their right to protest outside hospitals.

The protest was organized by CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, which represents about 10,000 health care workers in the city.

In May, the Ottawa City Council directed staff to draft a 'bubble zone' by-law by spring 2026, following passage of similar by-laws by other municipalities in Canada, which have prohibited demonstrations near hospitals, childcare centres, and places of worship.

"This sets a dangerous precedent for all citizens by violating our Charter-protected right to free expression," said Michael Hurley, president of OCHU-CUPE.

Hurley said the by-law would be particularly harmful for the predominantly female workforce in health care, which relies on demonstrations outside the workplace to assert their rights in the absence of the right to strike.

"For hospital workers, holding rallies and protests outside hospitals is critical to raise public awareness about key issues such as working conditions, patient neglect, and workplace violence," he said. "Health care workers are already deprived of the right to strike. Any attempts to extend the curtailing of our rights will be met with the full strength of the union's resources."

OCHU-CUPE is urging the Ottawa City Council to use public education campaigns - and where necessary, traditional policing - to address the growing divisions within society that are causing incidents of hatred and intimidation.

"Health care workers are too familiar with the rising tide of hate and violence in society, but attacking our constitutional rights does nothing to protect us, families or patients. All the means to deal with this are already available to the police." Hurley said. "We will challenge this by-law on the streets and in court."