Mr Joseph N. Tascona (Simcoe Centre): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario with over 300 signatures from the town of Innisfil.

"Whereas the Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the lawful right to go topless in public; and

"Whereas the Liberal government of Canada has the legislative authority to restrict going topless in public places; and

"Whereas sections 173 and 174 of the Criminal Code relating to public nudity need to be clarified to provide better protection of community standards;

"We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the province of Ontario to continue to urge the government of Canada to clarify legislation on going topless in public places."

I affix my signature.

Mrs Julia Munro (Durham-York): I have a petition that reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Criminal Code falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government of Canada;

"Whereas the Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that women have the lawful right to appear topless in public;

"Whereas the Liberal government of Canada has the power to change the Criminal Code to meet the needs and requirements of municipal and provincial governments in Canada and to reinstate such public nudity as an offence;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the government of Ontario to urge the government of Canada to pass new legislation or amend existing legislation to ban appearing topless in public places."

This petition is signed by 25 people from Keswick, Sharon and Jacksons Point who are constituents of my riding of Durham-York, as well as others from Newmarket and Fenelon Falls. I agree with this petition and I have affixed my name on it.

Mr Bob Wood (London South): I have a petition signed by 369 people throughout the province. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the courts have ruled that women have the lawful right to go topless in public; and

"Whereas the Liberal government of Canada has the power to change the Criminal Code to reinstate such public nudity as an offence;

"We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the government of Ontario to pass a bill empowering municipalities to enact bylaws governing dress code and to continue to urge the government of Canada to pass legislation to reinstate such partial nudity as an offence."

Mr Sean G. Conway (Renfrew North): A similar petition signed by scores of my constituents reads in part:

"We, the undersigned, petition the Ontario government to introduce legislation that would make it illegal for a woman to appear topless in any public place."

Mrs Julia Munro (Durham-York): I have a petition that reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"I strongly oppose the court decision passed in the case of Gwen Jacob, which ultimately allows women to expose their breasts in public places;

"I find this behaviour to be offensive both to myself and to my family."

This petition is signed by 10 men and women from Keswick and Queensville who are constituents of my riding of Durham-York, as well as others from Newmarket and Bradford. I agree with this petition and I affix my name to it.