Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'll ask this question, to be answered by any of the witnesses today.
When a private citizen chooses to effect an arrest without a warrant, then he or she can run the risk that the person who is thereby arrested may in fact be innocent; that the arrest may be determined to be a wrongful arrest; and in this case, that the person can be sued for damages for false imprisonment. If the person is sued for damages by reason of false imprisonment, he or she can raise the defence of having believed, on reasonable grounds, that the accused committed a criminal offence. In such a proceeding, it is the citizen who has the burden of proof to demonstrate that his or her belief was reasonable.
My question is, what effect would this bill have on the whole question of false imprisonment, if any?