r/canadaguns • u/GhostProtocolGaming • Mar 12 '26

News / Politics / Activism Stand on Guard - Conservative Party of Canada

https://www.conservative.ca/stand-on-guard-2/

The bill makes important changes to Section 34 of the Criminal Code so that force is presumed to be justified if used against an illegal intruder. Conservatives first announced the ‘Stand on Guard’ principle back in August, asking the government to introduce legislation in the fall session.

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u/DoYouGetSarcasm Mar 12 '26

This is definitely a step in the right direction.

an illegal intruder

I haven't read the specifics but how do you know if someone is illegally intruding? Do they have to be convicted of something after the fact? I would want some deep thought out into his to word it better so it applies to any intruder unless they are proven to be legitimate.

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u/GhostProtocolGaming Mar 12 '26

In Ontario, an "illegal intruder" (or trespasser) is defined as any person who enters a property without permission, lawful justification, or legal authority. This includes individuals who enter a dwelling-house (home) either through force or by using a temporarily open, unlocked, or partially opened entrance.

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u/penny-acre-01 Mar 12 '26

Does "property" include land? Would this mean someone can shoot me if I accidentally cross their property line?

I suppose the key is in the word "presumed" which doesn't exclude someone for being tried, it just doesn't force everyone to go to court unless the crown choses to press charges? Is that it?

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u/Visible_Bar_6774 Mar 12 '26

I’m not particularly familiar with the case law, maybe one of the lawyers that frequents the sub will chime in. My understanding is that you’ve got good odds of being acquitted in a home invasion case if they are beyond the threshold of the home, but that this doesn’t extend to the whole property. I think the justification is that once someone passes the threshold they reasonably constitute a threat to the occupants.

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u/Lumindan Mar 12 '26

My understanding is that you’ve got good odds of being acquitted in a home invasion case if they are beyond the threshold of the home, but that this doesn’t extend to the whole property. I think the justification is that once someone passes the threshold they reasonably constitute a threat to the occupants.

Not a lawyer but the bigger issue is also that the person who defends themselves / their families gets dragged through months of court, has to pay crazy fines and deals with their life getting flipped.

Ask yourself this, could you drop six figures in lawyer fees tomorrow and put your life on hold for 6 months?

Sure you MIGHT get acquitted but that isn't gonna fix the process.