Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My problem with this is that this motion seeks to delete one of the key elements in the defence of self-defence: that the person believes on reasonable grounds that force is being used against them. The deletion of "reasonable grounds" as a criterion would result in—for want of a better expression—the bald belief that no matter how unreasonable it may be as a basis for committing an act in perceived defence....
This new defence, as I read it, has been drafted to maintain the current approach to the perception of a threat that is both subjective and objective. I think it's important to keep both of those elements. Adopting this proposal would depart from the current approach to self-defence in relation to this core element.
I cannot support it for those reasons.