National

Poilievre wants 'reasonable' self-defence defined in Criminal Code

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Aug, 2025 08:50 AM

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants the government to amend the Criminal Code to say that the use of force is presumed to be reasonable to defend your home is someone breaks into it.

He says if the government doesn't do this, his party will introduce a private member's bill aimed at making the change this fall during a press conference in Brampton, Ont..

This comes after a 44-year-old Lindsay, Ont. man was charged with assault in an altercation after a man with a crossbow allegedly broke into his apartment.

The alleged intruder, a 41-year-old man also from Lindsay, was airlifted to hospital in Toronto with life-threatening injuries.

The chief of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service has defended the assault charge against the victim of the alleged break-in, saying defensive action must be proportionate to the threat faced.

The Criminal Code says that someone is allowed to protect themselves in a break-in as long as force used is "reasonable in the circumstances."

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey on track to deliver budget as Trump slaps tariffs

One day before delivering her first budget, British Columbia's finance minister said she knows that everyone is wondering how it can be done in the face of unprecedented tariffs from the United States. It is not time to make "deep cuts," Brenda Bailey told reporters on Monday, but a time to plan for uncertainty and ensure programs and services are protected.

B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey on track to deliver budget as Trump slaps tariffs

U.S. plans to nearly triple anti-dumping duty on Canadian softwood as tariffs loom

British Columbia Premier David Eby says news that the U.S. Department of Commerce wants to almost triple the anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber is a "massive threat" to the province's forestry sector. The American department issued a preliminary anti-dumping rate of 20.07 per cent, up from 7.66 per cent set three years ago, which is in addition to countervailing duties of 6.74 per cent.

U.S. plans to nearly triple anti-dumping duty on Canadian softwood as tariffs loom

One dead after Langley explosion that may have been caused by drug lab: police

The explosion and fire left two people with critical injuries and one person unaccounted for as the flames destroyed the home, spread to nearby residences and forced the closure of the neighbourhood. Sgt. Zynal Sharoom says in a news release that investigators remained at the scene over the weekend and were working with the BC Coroners Service to identify the remains.

One dead after Langley explosion that may have been caused by drug lab: police

Trump says threatened economywide tariffs will hit Canada, Mexico on Tuesday

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy, will start Tuesday, tipping the continent into a trade war. Trump's executive order to implement economywide tariffs was delayed until Tuesday after Canada and Mexico agreed to introduce new security measures at the border.

Trump says threatened economywide tariffs will hit Canada, Mexico on Tuesday

Trudeau staunchly defends Zelenskyy as London summit on European security wraps up

Trudeau said it could lead to Canada joining a new military coalition aimed at upholding an eventual peace in Ukraine, but the outgoing prime minister added that others will have to make such a decision.

Trudeau staunchly defends Zelenskyy as London summit on European security wraps up

Nurses, midwives can help treat depression during pregnancy and new motherhood: study

Nurses, midwives and doulas can treat depression and anxiety symptoms experienced during pregnancy and after delivery, a new study says. The clinical trial, published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, suggests training non-mental-health specialists in short-term behavioural therapy can make treatment available for people who don't have a psychologist or psychiatrist.