Thank you, Mr. Cotler. I have some thoughts about that.
I think the problem demonstrated in David Chen's case wasn't whether people had training, but whether in Canada we believe that Canadians have not only the right but also a role to play in public safety. This legislation, in my respectful submission, ought to focus on entrusting and promoting a sense of ownership in one's right to defend oneself and also on promoting the respect the government should give to ordinary Canadians. They are on the front line. It is their property, and it is a fundamental right that they should have to protect themselves and to be supported by the government in that endeavour.
So I would think that it is not particularly an issue of training, but an issue of attitude. As a society, what do we think everyone's role is in public safety? Are we going to continue to tell Canadians not to do anything? Are we going to take the paternalistic approach and tell them to leave it to the government, when clearly the government--in this case front-line police officers--cannot deal with the issue of rampant shoplifting in Chinatown, or in many stores?