Khanna tackling home invasions with bills
By Jeff Helsdon
With two home invasions making the news within a week, Oxford MP Arpan Khanna is calling for all-party support for a bill to tackle the issue.
One of the invasions hit close to home in the north end of Oxford, where two individuals, one of whom was armed with a shotgun, forced their way into a home on 29th Line in Zorra Township, shortly after midnight on Oct. 26.
According to police records, a physical altercation ensued between the homeowner and the two suspects that resulted in the shotgun being discharged. One of the suspects was struck and sustained unknown injuries. The suspects fled in a vehicle and are still at large. The homeowner sustained minor injuries.
Though police believe this incident was targeted and assured the public is not at risk, that was not the case in a home invasion in Toronto last Thursday. In that incident, a father and his two daughters were shot, and the mother was struck with a hammer.
“Home invasions are happening across our country at an alarming rate,” Khanna said. “Toronto Police released stats yesterday that said there were 119 home invasions in 2026 alone, a 50 per cent increase from last year.”
The Oxford MP said the Liberals say crime numbers are down, yet he contests that the number of incidents and people’s worries say otherwise.
“Canadians don’t feel safe in their own homes; that’s the one place where everyone should feel safe. That’s where your family is, your most precious belongings are,” he said, adding that’s a dramatic swing from a few years ago when people kept their doors unlocked and garage doors open.
Statistics say home invasions are already up 50 per cent over last year. To address safety concerns, the Conservatives have been exploring ideas in consultation with police forces, premiers, mayors and other stakeholders. Khanna’s Jail Not Bail Act, which was voted down on second reading, was one part of what he saw as a solution. While researching that bill, he found home invasion is not a standalone offence.
“There is no criminal code offence for home invasions; it results in multiple offences like break and enter, robbery, forcible confinement,” Khanna said, adding that when multiple charges go to court, “it gets pleaded down to one small charge so the actual criminals never get a hard sentence for that.”
In partnership with his colleague, MP Michael Guglielmen of Vaughan-Woodbridge, the Conservatives tabled the Safe at Home Act two weeks ago. If passed, this legislation would make home invasion a standalone offence with a five-year minimum sentence. It would also strengthen the bail laws for repeat home invaders.
In addition, six months ago, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and his team announced the Stand on Guard Law. This legislation would give home occupants more rights when it comes to self-defence.
“It would allow reasonable force to be used to defend your family, to defend your belongings,” Khanna said. “As a father, I can tell you if someone broke into my house, I would use any possible means to keep my family safe. It shouldn’t be that my rights are trumped by the rights of the criminal.”
In the meantime, Khanna said the Liberals are only proposing band-aid solutions and running television ads telling Canadians how safe they are.
“Every single day we are seeing that’s absolute nonsense,” he said.
Khanna also put in an order paper question asking the government how much was spent on the ads, money he said would be better spent on frontline policing or sent to victim services groups.
“It’s the government’s number one job to keep Canadians safe, and they are failing at that,” he said.
Speaking to the incident in Zorra, he said it reinforces home invasions aren’t just a city problem.
“Once they are finished the turf in the city, they are going to look for other easy targets. What we saw a few days ago in Zorra is very concerning for us,” he said.
Both bills have passed first reading and should come up for second reading within six months. If passed at that stage, the bill would be referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which Khanna serves on as the opposition justice critic. Then the bills would need to come back to Parliament for third reading, adding up to a long process.
Khanna is suggesting all-party support could expedite the bills.
“Get it done, Canadians can’t wait. Lives are at risk,” he said, adding his request isn’t without precedent. “When there is support across party lines, those can pass at a very fast rate. We are hoping they will put their partisanship aside and do what’s right for Canadians.”
Khanna met with Justice Minister Sean Fraser after the press deadline and planned to discuss expediting passage of the legislation.
Comments