Every Canadian deserves to feel safe in their own home. However, due to the Liberal Government’s soft-on-crime policies, too many families are left wondering whether the justice system protects law-abiding people or repeat offenders.
That is why Conservative Leader, Pierre Poilievre, has announced the “Stand on Guard” principle, a common sense amendment to the Criminal Code to ensure that Canadians will not be punished for defending their homes, their families, or their own lives.
The law as it stands is far too vague.
Section 34(2) of the Criminal Code allows Canadians to defend themselves but is subject to much interpretation, often far after the fact and at great expense. Too often, people who act to protect the ones they love face years of costly trials, while violent repeat offenders are back on the streets with easy bail under Liberal bills like C-5 and C-75. This imbalance breaks trust in the justice system and leaves Canadians unsafe.
In Ontario, a store owner in Hamilton was charged with assault after defending himself during a late-night break-in. Years of court proceedings followed before he was cleared. This law would have given him certainty that his actions to protect his livelihood and life were reasonable.
In Alberta, a homeowner in rural Okotoks faced charges after firing warning shots when trespassers came onto his property in the middle of the night. Although charges were eventually dropped, the family endured months of stress and uncertainty.
Under the “Stand on Guard” principle, the law would have recognized their right to act in defence without fear of legal punishment. If someone unlawfully enters your home and you reasonably believe they are a threat, the Stand on Guard principle will presume that the force you use to protect your family is reasonable.
This is not vigilantism. It is not about importing any American-style laws. It is a Canadian solution, rooted in proportionality and common sense, that ensures families are not left in legal limbo for doing the right thing while under immeasurable stress during the worst of circumstances.
Other countries, including Ireland and the U.K. have already clarified their laws in this way. It is time for Canada to follow suit. Canadians should not have to second guess themselves in a moment of crisis. They should know that the law stands with them and will protect them, not the criminals.
This proposal strengthens public confidence in our justice system by giving clarity to citizens, police, and prosecutors. It protects the innocent, preserves safeguards, and ends the double standard that leaves ordinary Canadians vulnerable.
Conservatives are standing on guard for Canada’s families, for safe communities, and for justice that works. I urge the Liberal government to join Conservatives in passing this amendment quickly.
Canadians deserve leadership that puts their safety, not the criminals, first.
