Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Answer to a Question on the Case of David Chen during Question Period (rough transcript)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Speaker: The Honourable Member for Oak Ridges—Markham.
Paul Calandra: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the case of David Chen has touched people across Canada. Canadians are concerned that a man like David Chen, who was merely stopping a thief committing a criminal act, somehow wound up an accused criminal himself. This is wrong, Mr. Speaker, and, of course, Canadians know it. What is the view of the Prime Minister about this unfortunate miscarriage of justice?
The Speaker: The Right Honourable Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Well, Mr. Speaker, I agree with my honourable colleague that the case of David Chen has raised concerns right across this country. Now that the case has been ruled on and common sense has prevailed, this government, myself, the Minister of Justice, have instructed the Department of Justice and instructed officials to look at possible changes to the criminal code to prevent incidents like Mr. Chen’s from occurring again.
