Saskatchewan’s Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act will come into force on August 1, introducing new rules to regulate weapons and dangerous drugs in public urban areas.
The legislation applies in municipalities and First Nations that choose to opt in and is designed to enhance safety by giving police the authority to seize items such as knives, machetes, hypodermic needles, bear spray, methamphetamine and fentanyl in public spaces, even if no criminal charge is laid.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said the Act will give law enforcement a critical tool to address public safety threats.
“The coming-into-force of this Act will empower law enforcement and give them an important tool to appropriately address individuals who use street weapons to intimidate or harm people in public spaces,” McLeod said in a statement.
The Act prohibits people from possessing, defacing or altering items that could be used as street weapons. Violating the rules could result in a fine of up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
Public spaces covered under the Act include buildings, parks, playgrounds, common areas of apartments or condominiums, unoccupied properties, and vehicles travelling through those areas.
The provincial government said the legislation includes exemptions to allow for legal uses of regulated items, such as food preparation, protection from wildlife and medical use of needles.
Saskatchewan is allowing municipalities and First Nations to decide whether they want the Act to apply in their jurisdictions. If a community does not opt in, the Act will not be enforced there.
The law is part of a broader investment in public safety. In the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years, the province is spending $2 billion on safety measures, including $699.4 million for policing and community safety, and more than $518 million to improve access to justice services.
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