Public nudity petition sponsored by former Green Party leader Elizabeth May
Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May has sponsored a petition calling on the federal government to repeal the Criminal Code's prohibition of public nudity, but she says she has not signed it and doesn’t support it.
The petitioner is identified as James Andrew Porter who lives in May's Vancouver Island riding.
"Nudity is not intrinsically sexual, indecent or obscene," the petition says. "The existing prohibition on public nudity harms society by reinforcing the notion that the human body is inherently shameful."
Other reasons listed for scrapping the offence from the Code include the "significant benefits to physical and mental health" of nudism and the elimination of the pollution caused by laundering clothes.
Being nude "without lawful excuse" has been an offence both in public and on private property and within public view since 1954.
"For the purposes of this section, a person is nude who is so clad as to offend against public decency or order," the Code reads.
However, charging and prosecuting someone for the crime requires the "consent of the Attorney General."
As of Tuesday, the petition had gathered 405 signatures. Of those, 178 were from Ontario and 72 from British Columbia. In both of those provinces, it is already legal for women to be topless in public.
In a statement, May said her sponsorship should not be misconstrued as an endorsement.
"To be clear, I am not a supporter of the petitioners' goal. I am not a supporter of public nudity. I do support the rights of citizens in a democracy to get direct answers from their government. This is an avenue too few Canadians know is available to them," she writes.
Any member of the public can initiate a petition to the House of Commons in an effort to "draw attention to an issue of public interest or concern" that is under the jurisdiction of the federal government and to request action from elected officials, according to an overview on the federal government's website.
However, a member of Parliament is required to authorize its publication.
"MPs are expected to sponsor or present any petition approved by the Parliamentary officers as allowable. Presenting a petition does not mean the MP supports the petition," May explained.
If 500 electronic signatures are received, the petition is certified and presented to Parliament and the government has 45 days to table a response.
"Paper petitions have been presented to the House of Commons for more than 100 years. Roughly 1,500 paper petitions are presented every year," according to the federal government. "Electronic petitions were established in 2015. Roughly 200 e-petitions are open for signature every year and gather over 500,000 signatures."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.