'It's pretty straightforward': Danielle Smith objects after Ontario man charged with assaulting home intruder

OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is echoing Ontario counterpart Doug Ford’s bafflement after learning that a Lindsay, Ont. man is facing criminal charges for injuring a home intruder.

Smith was quick to dispense some folk wisdom to the wounded trespasser when asked by the National Post about the incident on Thursday.

“Well if you don’t want to get shot or beaten up don’t break into people’s houses. It’s pretty straightforward,” quipped Smith, drawing a smattering laughter and applause from the room.

“We do expect that people are going to use a reasonable (amount) of force to defend themselves and their families, and I support that,” she continued.

Smith was speaking at the opening of a new provincial drug recovery centre in Calgary.

Her remarks came a day after Ford blasted Ontario police for arresting the trespassing victim, lamenting that “something is broken” in Canada’s criminal justice system.

The alleged intruder was already wanted by police for multiple unrelated offenses, including breach of probation, when he broke into the man’s home in the early hours of Monday morning, according to court filings.

Police arrived at the scene to find the intruder with serious, life-threatening injuries arising from an altercation with the resident, who now faces aggravated assault and weapons charges.

Smith said the incident reflected a lingering Canada-wide problem with criminal recidivism, touching on every province and territory.

“We all have had instances where somebody has been released on their own recognizance and then been repeat offenders … so we know that this is a problem that needs to be solved through (federal) legislation,” she said.

Smith said she hopes tough on crime legislation will be high on the agenda when Parliament resumes next month.

The Alberta premier wasn’t the only out-of-province politician to speak out on the incident.

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Alberta’s newest MP , shared a pithy reaction on social media earlier in the day.

“If someone breaks in, you deserve the right to defend your loved ones and your property — full stop,” wrote Poilievre.

National Post

rmohamed@postmedia.com

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