Saskatchewan has introduced legislation that will allow police to seize potential street weapons in public without laying charges.
The provincial government says the The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act will improve safety by regulating the possession, transportation and storage of items that may be used as street weapons. That includes large knives, machetes and bear spray.
“There is no room for any form of violence in Saskatchewan. These new rules will give communities more options to address individuals that use street weapons to intimidate or harm people in public spaces,” said Justice Minister Tim McLeod in a news release announcing the legislation.
Municipalities and First Nations will have to opt in for the rules to apply in their jurisdictions, the province said.
The legislation will also prohibit people from defacing or altering street weapons to make them easier to conceal.
People can be charged with a provincial offence for violating these rules, but charges are not necessary for the police to seize the items.
The province acknowledged that some of the items targeted in the legislation can be used for a legitimate, legal purpose and said there will be “appropriate exemptions.”
LISTEN| Why are so many Saskatchewan teens carrying bear spray?
The new act builds on regulations brought in earlier this year that tightened the rules around bear spray after a rash of disturbances at public pools, shopping malls and midways across the province.
When those regulations were passed, Saskatchewan said there had been approximately 3,000 reports of bear spray in Saskatchewan during the last five years, mainly in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.
Those charged under the bear spray rules can now face potential fines of up to $100,000.