TORONTO -- Grocer David Chen -- who tied up a shoplifter during a citizen's arrest -- was
thanked by federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney for sparking the creation of a law dubbed the Lucky Moose Bill.

Kenney dropped by Chen's store -- Lucky Moose Food Market, on Dundas St. W. -- on Sunday to meet with the merchant following the May 1 passage of legislation which expanded Bill C-26.

The changes provide Canadians with greater powers of citizen's arrest. The bill is now before the Senate.

Police charged Chen, 39, in May 2009 after they found a repeat shoplifter the store operator had chased and tied up. Chen was later acquitted.

"The Lucky Moose Bill reinforces the right of business owners to protect their property," Kenney said Sunday. "This bill reflects the public demand that came after Mr. Chen was arrested for defending his property."

Kenny added that his government "will ensure that the bill remains strong and intact, and I urge Liberal senators to help us ensure its speedy passage in the Senate."

Bill C-26, The Citizen's Arrest and Self Defence Act, clarifies and simplifies the rules on when citizens can take the law into their own hands.

The bill will repeal about 10 existing Criminal Code provisions dealing with self-defence, defence of property and citizen's arrest, and collapse them into three easier-to-understand sections.

In another case, police charged Naveen "Spiceman" Polapady, the owner of Maroli Restaurant, on Bloor St. W., who claimed he was defending his property when he hurled masala spice powder into the face of a man who allegedly attempted to break into his car.

Polapady was charged with assault, which sparked outrage. His case is before the courts.