New rules crack down on misuse of bear spray
The province unveiled new regulations Tuesday aimed at combating the misuse of bear spray in urban centres.
The new regulations are meant to give law enforcement an additional tool to seize bear spray and fine individuals found in possession of it, should an officer decide the product is being carried for improper reasons, officials explained at a news conference at Regina Police Service (RPS) headquarters.
Effectively, the rules are aimed at deterring the use of bear spray as a weapon against people.
Over the past five years, Saskatchewan police have attended thousands of incidents involving bear spray, according to Policing and Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman.
Those include high-profile incidents such as the one that caused the shutdown of Regina's Wascana Pool on opening day and numerous incidents at city exhibitions.
The regulations restricting possession of bear spray are meant to apply only to “urban areas.”
Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said this would mean any centre with more than 5,000 people, but she noted that if smaller centres wanted the regulations to apply to their communities, the province would like to hear from them.
Officers are meant to use their discretion as to whether or not bear spray is being carried for improper use, Merriman said.
“People will be permitted to transport bear spray from a retail location to a place where it can be lawfully stored (e.g., a private home) or lawfully used (e.g., a camping trip),” a government news release states.
Those charged under the new regulations “could face potential fines of up to $100,000,” though Eyre noted fine amounts would also be discretionary.
There will be no change to the requirements surrounding the purchase of bear spray, according to Eyre.
Richard Lowen, Estevan's police chief and president of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, said bear spray has been an issue in the province for a long time, Lowen said.
“We're fully in support of the regulation changes,” he said.