SASKATOON — The City Council is set to move for final approval of amendments recommended by the Saskatoon Police Service on Business License Bylaw 9746, which implements regulations for the sale of wildlife products such as bear spray.
The amendment includes the requirement to report the purchase of bear spray, based on a report recommended by the Saskatoon Police Service’s Community Services Division, which was submitted in early June this year.
The City Council discussed and debated the amendments proposed by SPS Chief Cam McBride during their regular business meeting last month. The amended bylaw will be presented to the city council on Wednesday, July 30.
The SPS expects no changes to the amendments to be brought forth, and once approved, they will take effect on Thursday, July 31.
Part of the recommendation is for the city council to write a letter to Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, requesting that additional provincial regulations be implemented regarding the sale of bear sprays, and considering implementing them province-wide.
Another amendment approved in the bylaw is to include a buyer registry, where the serial number of the canister of bear spray purchased will be logged. The amendment will restrict the sale of the product to minors and require identification for those who wish to buy it.
SPS Spokesperson Kelsie Fraser said that preventing bear spray-related attacks, either on civilians or police officers, has been one of McBride’s goals. As of May this year, 235 incidents had already been reported, compared to 367 in 2024, 364 in 2023, and 180 in 2022.
“Curbing the misuse of bear spray has been something Chief McBride has wanted to achieve this year. We are looking forward to working collaboratively with City of Saskatoon Bylaw Enforcement Officers once these amendments are enacted,” said Fraser.
Since Friday, July 18, there had been four bear-spray-related incidents, with one involving the use of bear spray in a string of criminal acts that resulted in a police chase on Wednesday, July 9. Two incidents involved threats to use bear spray, while the other was possession.
In June, there were eight incidents, with four in which bear spray was deployed against a police officer and another inside a city bus. Saskatoon police officers also arrested three suspects in possession of bear spray.
SPS, in an earlier statement, said they had already sent letters to retailers currently selling bear sprays, informing them of the amendments. The SPS will then conduct compliance checks once the amendment is in place. Businesses that do not comply will face fines.
The SPS added that officers are currently working diligently to combat the issue of bear spray incidents in the city, with a number of those reported occurring at the Saskatoon Transit bus depot downtown, involving teenagers.
