OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is advocating for an amendment to the Criminal Code that would clarify the use of force in self-defense situations. He proposes that the law should state that force used to defend one’s home is presumed reasonable if someone breaks in.

During a press conference in Brampton, Ontario, Poilievre announced that if the government does not take action, his party will introduce a private member's bill this fall to implement this change.

This push for legal reform follows a recent incident in Lindsay, Ontario, where a 44-year-old man was charged with assault after an altercation involving an alleged intruder armed with a crossbow. The intruder, a 41-year-old man from the same area, was airlifted to a Toronto hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The chief of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service has defended the assault charge against the homeowner, emphasizing that defensive actions must be proportionate to the threat faced. According to the current Criminal Code, individuals are permitted to protect themselves during a break-in, provided that the force used is deemed "reasonable in the circumstances."

Poilievre's proposal aims to provide clearer guidelines for self-defense, particularly in home invasion scenarios.