Edmonton considering tougher bear spray sale regulations
Edmonton considering tougher bear spray sale regulations
The use of pepper spray is not permitted in Canada, apart from police officers. Products that contain oleoresin capsicum are subject to federal regulations and anyone looking to purchase bear spray will need to present their ID and complete a form.
On a fall afternoon in 2021, Linda McGeough was standing at the bus stop in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood when she heard a noise and was suddenly pushed to the ground by a man waving a canister. She soon realized she was burning and couldn‘t see or breathe, due to a spray containing oleoresin capsicum, the active ingredient in bear, pepper, and dog spray.
Linda McGeough reported that she had been attacked with a spray containing oleoresin capsicum while waiting for a bus at Alberta Avenue in North Edmonton during the Fall of 2021.
Attacks of this kind are not rare in Edmonton; an Edmonton Police Service report to the community and public services committee on Tuesday stated that the number of such incidents increased from 1,711 to 3,424 between 2015 and 2020. The report also showed that 62 per cent of attacks occurred within 100 metres of bus stops and 400 metres of schools, suggesting the need for greater safety measures.
Incidents involving such sprays have become increasingly common in Edmonton and surrounding areas, leading the Edmonton Police Service to recommend charging individuals found in possession of tampered bear spray, as well as consistent rules for businesses around sales like individuals wanting to buy bear spray have to show ID and fill out a form.
A municipal bylaw around sale of bear spray has been implemented in parts of Canada, such as Surrey and Chilliwack in British Columbia, with the latter experiencing a 50-55% decrease in incidents since implementing the bylaw. Acting Sgt. Andrew Furman of the Edmonton Police Service stated that the main issue was establishing clear guidelines to sellers, such as ensuring a safe transport condition for the product, and that the label isn’t tampered with.