Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, what is a security guard's limitation when conducting a search of an individual attempting to enter a private facility through an access control point, if there is no reasonable suspicion of an offense?

Question: Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, what is a security guard's limitation when conducting a search of an individual attempting to enter a private facility through an access control point, if there is no reasonable suspicion of an offense?

Answer options:

• They can conduct a full body search regardless of consent.
• They can demand personal identification even if no signage states it. ✅ They can only conduct a consent-based search within established policies, generally limited to bags or vehicles.
• They are legally empowered to strip search any visitor at will.

Correct answer: They can only conduct a consent-based search within established policies, generally limited to bags or vehicles.

Explanation: Without reasonable grounds or a warrant, a private security guard's authority to search is generally limited to what is permitted by explicit consent or clear, pre-established policies for entry onto private property. The Charter protects against unreasonable search and seizure.