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Letter-Writing Campaign to Review Section 174 of the Criminal Code

The Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN) recently helped to promote Petition e-3999, which urged the Federal Government to repeal Section 174 of the Criminal Code. Thanks in part to support from our members, this petition garnered 1,760 signatures. However, this strong show of public support does not guarantee that the House of Commons will respond to this petition in any meaningful way. In fact, many petitions presented to Parliament do not result in any government action.

FCN Position Statement on Section 174 of the Criminal Code

As advocates for Canadian naturism, we need to build on the momentum of the petition and ensure that this matter receives timely attention. Therefore, the Federation of Canadian Naturists is organizing a letter-writing campaign that calls on the Federal Government to conduct a formal review of Section 174 of the Criminal Code.

In order to have the greatest impact, we encourage all our members, friends and allies to take part in our letter-writing campaign. This will take place over a four-week period, from October 2 to October 28. We encourage all our members and allies to write to the following…

(1) Your individual Member of Parliament

To find the name and contact information of your MP, visit

www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en

(2) The Honourable David Lametti

Minister of Justice
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6

Or email to David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca

(3) Mr. Randeep Sarai

Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6

Or email to randeep.sarai@parl.gc.ca

What to Include in a letter of support

Letters written to the members of the Federal government may be submitted through Canada Post or by email. However, either form of correspondence should include some basic criteria to be considered legitimate. When writing your letter of support, remember to include:

Your legal name. Never use an alias or remain anonymous.
Your address
The name of the individual to whom you are writing.
When writing to your Member of Parliament, identify yourself as a constituent.
The date when the letter was written.
Letters sent through Canada Post should include your signature.
Never be rude, threatening, or engage in foul language or name-calling.

Also, for best results, include the following points and practices:

Keep your ideas concise and to the point.
Identify yourself as a Canadian citizen and member of the Federation of Canadian Naturists.
If you like, share why this issue – or your experience as a naturist – is important to you.

Note - letters mailed to offices of the Federal Government do not require postage.

To assist you in preparing a letter, consider using the letter template below.

Your name

Your address

Date

The name, and title (i.e. Honourary) of the individual you are writing to

Address

Dear (Name of the individual),

I am writing to express my support for a committee review of Section 174 of the Criminal Code. As someone who is both a Canadian and a naturist, as well as a member of the Federation of Canadian Naturists, I support this review for the following reasons:

1. In its present wording it cannot be enforced consistently and is prone to personal bias.
2. It has not been the subject of a full, comprehensive review in over 50 years.
3. It falls short in reflecting our multiculturalism and freedom of expression.

In closing, I hope that I can count on your support in transforming this outdated set of laws in a way that reflects our present-day Canadian values of inclusion and freedom.

Sincerely,

Your signature

Your Name