Council committee takes no action on bear spray bylaw suggestion

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A city council committee received a suggestion for a bylaw to regulate the sale of bear spray but took no action at a meeting on Wednesday.

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A city council committee received a suggestion for a bylaw to regulate the sale of bear spray but took no action at a meeting on Wednesday.

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The idea, raised by Cary and Sherry Tarasoff in a message to the planning, development and community services committee, was to have the city administration work with police on ways to curb the use of bear spray as a weapon.

The item was briefly discussed during Wednesday’s committee meeting before it was received as information. Most of the conversation revolved around the province’s Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act, which allows municipalities and First Nations to opt into new rules aimed at people who carry weapons like bear spray and machetes.

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The legislation does not mention anything about regulating sales. It gives police authority to seize large knives or bear spray from people carrying them in places where the municipal government has opted into the new rules, without laying a criminal charge, and prohibits those items from being altered in any way to make them easier to conceal.

Mayor Cynthia Block asked for logistical details about how the city would go about opting in to the new legislation. City staff said they will work with police to see if there are any requirements council needs.

“We’ll make sure we bring that forward at the appropriate time,” City manager Jeff Jorgenson said.

Police Chief Cam McBride said Saskatoon has recorded more than 300 bear spray attacks in 2024.

“The number of bear spray incidents we’re seeing is growing. We were worried that we were going to hit the 300 mark … we’ve already surpassed that. We’re sitting at 309 bear spray incidents right now,” McBride said, adding that there are no signs of things slowing down.

McBride said he would support regulating sales of bear spray in Saskatoon. Controlling the point of sale is important, as is having a strong penalty for those who use bear spray in public spaces, he said.

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Cary Tarasoff said the committee’s decision not to act on his suggestion amounts to the city passing work on to the provincial government.

“The problem is, the police need this, they want it,” Tarasoff said, adding that he expects the city won’t do anything about the issue.

When asked why no further action was recommended, the city sent a statement.

“As outlined this morning at the committee, there is provincial legislation regarding bear spray which was introduced in March of 2024. The provincial government has also just introduced new legislation,” the statement said, adding that the city would keep itself informed about the new Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act.

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