Petition Seeks to Legalize Public Nudity in Canada

A Gibsons, B.C. resident launched a House of Commons petition asking Parliament to separate non-sexual nudity from indecent behaviour under the Criminal Code.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Sex Life

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a weathered wooden bench beside a calm forest lake, evoking a quiet, unhurried sense of natural ease. — Scott Bleackley, a Gibsons, B.C. resident, launched a House of Commons petition asking Parliament to decriminalize non-sexual public nudity under Section 174 of the Criminal Code. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Scott Bleackley, a Gibsons, B.C. resident and member of the Federation of Canadian Naturists, initiated the petition on November 2, 2026, with authorization from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. The petition has 335 of the 500 valid signatures needed to be certified and presented in the House of Commons.

Why it matters

The petition argues that simply being without clothing should not be a criminal offence and that recreational nudity is peaceful and linked to improved body image and well-being. Under current law, public nudity can carry fines of up to $5,000 and prison terms of up to two years, so changes to Section 174 would directly affect Canadians who go nude in non-sexual settings.

The petition has 335 signatures against the 500 valid signatures needed for certification, and current public nudity penalties reach $5,000 in fines and two years in prison. It is not yet known whether it will reach the threshold before the March 2, 2027 deadline.

The players

Elizabeth May

Elizabeth May is the leader of Canada's Green Party, who first took the role in 2006, stepped down in 2019, and returned in 2022.

Federation of Canadian Naturists

The Federation of Canadian Naturists is an organization advocating for recreational nudity in Canada, of which petition initiator Scott Bleackley is a member.

The details

The petition asks Parliament to amend Section 174 of the Criminal Code so that non-sexual recreational nudity is separated from indecent behaviour and calls on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to study the changes. Elizabeth May, who first became Green Party leader in 2006 and stepped down in 2019 before returning in 2022, authorized the petition, and in 2022 she sponsored a similar petition, later clarifying she did not sign or support it.

2022: Elizabeth May sponsored a similar nudity petition, later clarifying she did not support it.
November 2, 2026: Scott Bleackley initiated the new House of Commons nudity petition.
March 2, 2027: The petition signing period closes.

Sex Life

The petition would revise Section 174 of the Criminal Code, the provision that currently treats public nudity as an offence alongside indecent behaviour. It follows a 2022 petition on the same subject that Elizabeth May sponsored and later said she did not support.

If the petition reaches 500 valid signatures and the law changes, Canadians who go nude in non-sexual, recreational settings such as clothing-optional beaches like Wreck Beach in Vancouver or Hanlan's Point in Toronto could face different legal treatment. Until any amendment passes, current penalties of up to $5,000 and two years in prison still apply.

The takeaway

The petition raises a practical legal question about whether simply being unclothed in a non-sexual setting should be treated the same as indecent behaviour. Readers who want to follow its progress can track the signature count until the March 2, 2027 deadline.

What happens next

The petition signing period closes on March 2, 2027, when it will be determined whether it has reached the 500 valid signatures required for presentation in the House of Commons.