June 27, 1997
TICKLISH BARE BREASTS ISSUE OFF TO PRIME MINISTER
MP JOHN NUNZIATA SAYS HE'LL TAKE A 14,000-NAME PETITION TO JEAN CHRETIEN AND ASK FOR A NATIONWIDE BAN ON TOPLESSNESS.
By Aaron Sands
Sun Media Newspapers
TORONTO -- Bare breasts are now in the hands of Jean Chretien.
Nearly 500 noisy activists marched on Nathan Phillips Square on Thursday to get their anger over Ontario's topless law off their chests and demand action from the prime minister.
Independent MP John Nunziata accepted 14,000 signatures gathered in the Metro area by the citizen's group Keep Tops On. He said he'll personally deliver them to Chretien and ask for a nationwide ban on toplessness.
"It's now clear this issue is in the hands of Jean Chretien," Nunziata said, adding municipal or provincial restrictions won't solve the issue.
"The decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal affects all Canadians and I think it offends most Canadians. This could soon spread to other provinces so it's not something where local politicians can pass bylaws. These are standards and values that all Canadians hold."
Nunziata is demanding the federal government amend the Criminal Code to have topless women anywhere in the country charged with indecent exposure.
He said he'll deliver the petitions to Chretien when Parliament reconvenes in the fall. "By then we should have hundreds of thousands of names," Nunziata said.
NOT SOON ENOUGH
Federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan said Wednesday she's hoping there's a way to solve the problem without passing a federal law against bare breasts. McLellan and Ontario Attorney General Charles Harnick will ask the Uniform Law Commissioners to discuss the issue at their August meeting.
Roxanne James, rally organizer and mother of three, criticized McLellan for delaying the issue and vowed she won't take her children to the park or beach until it's resolved.
"With this, we may as well bring the adult magazines down from the top shelves and mix them in with the comic books."
"I think today we've sent a strong message that the majority of Canadians don't like this and it's about time someone did something about it," said Tal Risser, 37, of Scarborough.
A spokesperson for the prime minister refused to comment Thursday.
Toronto Sun