Ontario Premier Ford Backs Homeowner Charged With Assault on Intruder

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has come out in defence of a Lindsay, Ont., man facing assault charges after police say he injured an armed intruder who broke into his home on Aug. 18.

Commenting on the incident during an unrelated press conference on Aug. 20, Ford said that Canadians should be legally allowed to use any force they deem necessary to protect themselves during a home invasion.

“Something is broken. I know if someone breaks into my house, or someone else’s, you’re going to fight for your life. This guy has a weapon; you’re going to use any force you possibly can to protect your family,” Ford said, adding, “I know everyone would.”

The incident occurred on Aug. 18 in Lindsay, Ont., after police say a 44-year-old man woke up to an armed intruder who had entered his apartment around 3 a.m. The resident and intruder fought, leading to the intruder suffering life-threatening injuries and being airlifted to hospital. According to police, the resident used an unspecified weapon on the intruder.

The apartment owner is charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. The 41-year-old alleged intruder, who was wanted by police on unrelated charges, faces various charges related to breaking and entering, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and breaching probation conditions.

Ford commented on the alleged intruder’s previous charges, repeating previous criticism that Canada’s bail system is not effectively deterring criminals.

“The federal government needs to put in place mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes, a mandatory three strike rule requiring pretrial detention for repeat offenders and stricter bail and sentencing laws to better respond to the severity of a range of violent offences,” Ford said to Carney in his letter.

In 2019, the Trudeau government introduced two pieces of legislation focused on criminal justice reform: Bill C-5, which eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for certain violent offences, and Bill C-75, which emphasized releasing offenders on the “least onerous conditions.” The bills aimed to address “systemic” issues within the justice system and promote fairer sentencing outcomes. 

Canadian law recognizes use of force in self-defence as a potentially legally justified response to a threat or crime but requires the force used to be reasonable and proportionate to the threat.

The Harper government passed Bill C-26 in 2012 leading to various changes to Canada’s Criminal Code allowing “reasonable” use of force in responding to force or a threat of force. According to the act, various factors are to be used by the courts to determine whether a defensive use of force is justified, including how imminent the threat was, the level of threat, whether weapons were used and the “proportionality” of the response.

Ford has previously called for Canada to have a “castle law” similar to some U.S. states, allowing the use of lethal force in protecting one’s residence.

The Carney government has vowed to put forward stricter bail measures for home invasion and repeat violent offenders amid rising violent crime rates nationwide.