Premier Ford voices support of man who allegedly shot gun in the air to ward off attempted carjackers
Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered his support to a man facing firearms charges after discharging his gun in a residential area of Vaughan last week to scare off alleged car thieves.
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At a press conference on Tuesday morning to break ground on the Eastern Transit Hub, Ford spoke of 'weak kneed judges' and the need for bail reform, and also pointed out the incident that occurred last week, where four men were charged with the attempted theft of a car, attempt break and enter and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. One of the four was also charged with breach of probation.
Police also said a 35-year-old male resident discharged a firearm during the attempted theft. He was located with a firearm and arrested.
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'Did you hear about the guy that these thugs came up, you know, ready to steal his car, they are all in their masks and everything. So I guess he was a hunter or something. He shot up in the air. I don't recommend that, by the way. But he gets charged. I got to find out this guy's name and number, and I'm going to hold a fundraiser for lawyer fees for him. He should get a medal for standing up,' said Ford.
He went on to suggest that Canada should have stronger laws for people to defend their property, like the U.S.
'It's like down in the U.S., we should have the Castle law. Someone breaks into your house. I know any of these people here, someone breaks in your house, and they're coming after your kids and your spouse, you're going to fight like you've never fought before. You're going to use anything.'
The Castle law is a U.S. legal principle that allows individuals to defend their homes, even using deadly force, if necessary.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says masked men tried to steal a vehicle from his home overnight but police thwarted the attempt. Ford told the story after criticizing the bail system and saying criminals are running amok. (June 17, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
At the time of the carjacking incident, York Region Police's Constable James Dickson explained why officers had arrested the man.
'A 35-year-old man has been charged for discharging a firearm as well as possession of weapons for dangerous purpose. Now, we cannot stress enough that using a firearm in a residential neighbourhood is incredibly dangerous. It's very fortunate in this case that nobody was hurt, but we always are saying immediately, call 911, don't put yourself in harm's way and prioritize your personal safety.'
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Dickson went on to discuss defending yourself according to Canadian laws.
'So, defending yourself is entirely based on what's proportional and what's reasonable. In a case like this, it has been determined that a firearm was not the appropriate one. Now, these charges, obviously, we have weighed for discharging the firearm as well as for possession of weapons for a dangerous purpose, but proportionality and reasonability is entirely determined by the courts,' he said.
The men accused of attempted carjacking were set to appear in Newmarket court on Tuesday.
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Winnipeg Free Press
42 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
The road too often travelled
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Toronto Star
3 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Mark Carney and world leaders unable to convince Donald Trump to sign joint G7 declaration of support for Ukraine
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They agreed to address wildfires through mitigation and adaptation, construction of resilient infrastructure, to share data. Two other statements were issued on a new a critical minerals action plan, which was also endorsed by Australia, India and South Korea, and a Kananaskis Wildfires Charter endorsed by Australia, India, Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! 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Canada Standard
3 hours ago
- Canada Standard
"Concluding a productive Canada visit": PM Modi departs for Croatia
Kananaskis [Canada], June 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to Canada, where he participated in the G7 Summit and departed for Croatia. During his visit, PM Modi expressed gratitude to the people and government of Canada for hosting a successful G7 Summit and underscored how India remains committed to the cause of global peace, prosperity and security. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, 'Concluding a productive Canada visit. Thankful to the Canadian people and Government for hosting a successful G7 Summit, which witnessed fruitful discussions on diverse global issues. We remain committed to furthering global peace, prosperity and sustainability.' The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also highlighted the significance of the visit in a post on X, stating, 'PM @narendramodi concludes a very productive visit to Canada! Held fruitful dialogue on key issues in the global context of energy security, technology, and innovation at the @G7 Summit. Met with several leaders & discussed bilateral ties. Next stop- Croatia' Prime Minister Narendra Modi had arrived at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Canada on Tuesday to attend the G7 Summit. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney received PM Modi as he arrived at the summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta. In a series of high-level meetings held on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, PM Modi highlighted India's efforts to strengthen global partnerships and champion the cause of the Global South. He held discussions with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council. Building on these interactions, PM Modi emphasised solidarity with the Global South after meetings with leaders from Brazil and South Africa. He described 'outstanding conversations' with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, reaffirming their shared commitment to addressing issues vital to the Global South and working towards a better future for coming generations. Alongside these engagements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held insightful deliberations with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. (ANI)
