Saskatchewan has new rules for the possession of bear spray in its cities with possible fines of up to $100,000.
The regulations will apply only to public urban areas, not rural or northern areas where bear spray is typically used for safety purposes.
The new rules restrict the possession of bear spray or capsaicin-containing wildlife control products in public urban spaces in Saskatchewan. The regulations also prohibit defacing or altering bear spray to disguise what the product is.
“Over the last few years, there have been thousands of public disturbances involving bear spray across the province,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said. “These new regulations will improve public safety and provide police and wildlife officers with more options to seize and charge people in possession of bear spray, including in shopping malls, movie theatres, urban parks, and on exhibition grounds.”
People will be able to transport bear spray from a retail location to a place where it can be lawfully stored (eg., a private home) or lawfully used (eg., a camping trip).
President of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police (SACP), Chief Richard Lowen said, “The SACP is in support of any legislation that curbs the illegal use of a product for anything other than its intended purpose.”
