Legislation Targeting Street Weapons Comes Into Effect in Saskatchewan

New legislation that intends to promote safety in public urban spaces by prohibiting street weapons and substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine has come into effect in Saskatchewan.

The Safe Public Spaces Act, also known as the Street Weapons Act, came into effect on Aug. 1, a July 31 news release says.

The legislation allows police to seize and impound street weapons, such as knives, machetes, axes, hammers, and bear spray. The Act also considers hypodermic needles not used for medical purposes and dangerous drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine to be street weapons.

“The government is committed to increased public safety measures to ensure all Saskatchewan citizens feel safe and protected in their communities,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said in a July 31 statement.

“The coming-into-force of this Act will empower law enforcement and give them an important tool to appropriately address individuals that use street weapons to intimidate or harm people in public spaces.”

The province is giving municipalities and First Nations the choice to opt into the Act or not, noting that the rules will not apply to those who do not opt in.

Those in possession of these items may face a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or a combination of a fine and imprisonment. Regardless of whether a charge is laid, police are able to seize these items from people in public spaces under the new legislation.

The province says public spaces could include public buildings, parks, playgrounds, any land or building entered without the owner’s consent, common areas of condominiums or apartments, unoccupied land or buildings, or vehicles travelling through public spaces.

“The government recognizes that many items used as street weapons have legitimate, legal purposes,” the release says, adding that such items used for food preparation, to protect against wildlife threats, or hypodermic needles used for medical purposes are exempt from enforcement.

Public Safety

The Act comes amid a $2 billion investment in public safety by the province over two years, which includes supporting policing and community safety and improving access to justice services, the province says.

The Safe Public Spaces Act was first introduced on Dec. 5, 2024, to prohibit street weapons in public spaces. In April this year, amendments to the Act were made to include fentanyl, methamphetamine, and hypodermic needles.

The province said these items present “significant risks” to public safety and that the move follows the province’s prior commitment to implementing a “comprehensive plan to protect communities from illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine production, transportation, trafficking and street use,” which was announced by the province on Feb. 25.

“These drugs have caused immense harm in our communities, leading to addiction, crime and loss of life,” McLeod said in a Feb. 25 statement. “We are taking a firm stance to disrupt the flow of fentanyl and methamphetamine while also providing options for offenders to access the resources necessary for recovery.”

Amending the Act in April to include fentanyl, methamphetamine, and hypodermic needles came on the heels of an emergency response implemented by the province in March over concerns of drug overdoses in Saskatoon. Fire crews had responded to more than 300 drug overdoses between Feb. 25 and March 13, according to government data.

The surge in overdoses was connected to a fentanyl batch that contained high fentanyl levels and caused patients to require four or five doses of naloxone to recover, authorities said.

Chandra Philip contributed to this report.