I remember when this was big news a few years ago. Olivia Chow was a big propenent of these new powers. I'm conflicted.
OTTAWA—David Chen, the Toronto grocer who inspired the Conservative government’s draft of new “citizen arrest” powers, is not convinced the proposed law will help him much.
Testifying at a senate committee, Chen said his shop is the victim of “repeat offenders” who shoplift, flee and elude the police who often do not show up for hours. He and shop-owners like him must spend time and money to pursue charges, or to defend themselves, or “suck it up” and write off the losses, he said.
“We believe the law should be on our side,” he said. “Because those are the criminals.”
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1207130--david-chen-unsure-ne...