What to know
- Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May is backing a federal petition calling for the legalization of non-sexual recreational public nudity in Canada.
- The petition calls for the Criminal Code to clarify that non-sexual nudity, without other unlawful behaviour, does not automatically constitute an act of indecency.
- This is May’s second attempt to advance the issue. Her previous petition, submitted in 2022, received 1,760 signatures before the House of Commons rejected it, citing existing public nudity laws.
- Toronto residents interviewed in Parkdale had mixed reactions. While some supported personal freedom, others expressed concerns about unwanted exposure and children seeing nudity in public spaces. One resident said it was more about behaviour than clothing.
Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May just backed a petition this week that calls for the legalization of “non-sexual recreational nudity,” but some Toronto residents aren’t quick to strip.
As of Monday, Canadians can sign a federal petition that calls for the clarification that simply being without clothing does not mean committing an act of indecency, as long as it is non-sexual and unaccompanied by independently unlawful behaviour.
Additionally, signing the petition calls for the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to look into this amendment and establish clear guidelines on how enforcement is reflected on modern Canadian recreational norms.
This is the former leader’s second attempt at getting the ball rolling for legalizing public nudity, with May’s previous petition being released while she was in office, closing with 1760 signatures in December 2022.
After presenting it to the House of Commons, the petition was rejected, with the house stating “the Criminal Code prohibits being nude in a public place, or being nude and exposed to public view while on private property, without lawful excuse.”
The house also ended up clarifying that not all acts of nudity are criminalized.
“The harm or risk of harm must be of a degree that is incompatible with the proper functioning of society. Accordingly, not all acts of public nudity are criminal,” they stated.
‘I want to be able to have a choice,’ Torontonians react to the petition
Ultimately, the House of Commons tabled their response. Now, as a Member of Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands in British Columbia, May is looking to bring up the potential legislation again.
It’s a move that not all residents are aligned with.
While many Toronto residents in the Parkdale area told Now Toronto they support others’ choices, ultimately, they were slightly uncomfortable at the thought.
“Everybody can do what they want. I just don’t want to see it,” one resident said. “I’ve accidentally been on a nudist on a beach in Cuba, and it was not pleasant.”
She added that there should be individual choice in the matter.
“I want to be able to have a choice if I see naked people or not,” she explained.
Another resident said it wasn’t something he had thought about in the past but was hesitant.
“I don’t have any kids, but if that was legal and I had a kid, I would be very concerned about my kid going to a park,” he said.
He added that he would probably go out of his way to avoid crossing paths with those who practice nudity.
However, one Toronto resident said that, although it may take getting used to, the social activity of having no clothes on can be welcomed if done right.
“It would probably take some adjustment, but just because it’s a change, and I know change can be scary, doesn’t mean it’s bad,” he explained.
He added that overall, it’s the choices those participating make.
“However you would behave with clothes, if you’re also behaving that way, in a public space, without clothes, I feel like you’re not hurting anyone,” he said.
“It’s less about the attire and more about the behaviour.”
