Despite new regulations, Saskatoon police report uptick in bear spray attacks – Saskatoon [Video]

Saskatchewan passed additional regulations to combat the use of bear spray as a street weapon in December.

But Saskatoon police reported 10 bear spray attacks over the long weekend alone, raising concerns of regulation effectiveness and safety in public spaces.

Since the implementation of The Safe Public Spaces Act, Saskatoon police reported 23 bear spray incidents in December and 31 incidents in January.

Police say preventing bear spray attacks can be challenging even with the new provincial regulations.

“We are seizing it and we are laying the appropriate charges, but we have to see it,” says Saskatoon Police Chief Cameron McBride. “So whether it’s in a public space or not, if you don’t see it and you don’t know it’s there, you can’t deal with it. And so, unfortunately, because it’s being concealed, we don’t know until they’ve pulled it out and used it.”

The Centre mall provided the following …