Carrying a gun on the street has been illegal for years, but Prince Albert Police now have the ability to seize machetes and bear spray if they see them being carried in public. (Image Credit: Submitted/PA Police )

By Susan McNeil

Street Weapons Act

City of Prince Albert opts in to Street Weapons Act  

Jan 27, 2026 | 1:52 PM

Council was unanimous in its decision to opt in to the Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act and passed all three readings of two bylaws needed to make it official. 

Last year, the province created the act but gave municipalities the option of being included or not. The city began discussing it but decided to ask the Board of Police Commissioners to review it first.  

“The Prince Albert Police Service supports the city’s decision to adopt the provincial legislation,” wrote Chief Patrick Nogier in a memo to the Commission last week.  

“The Act represents an additional, well-defined tool intended to support public safety in urban environments and complements existing enforcement authorities available under the Criminal Code of Canada and municipal bylaws.” 

That recommendation was before council during their Monday meeting and passed with limited discussion.  

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A new bylaw needed to be adopted and an old bylaw about the discharge of weapons and firearms needed to be amended.

While weapons are already legislated in the Criminal Code of Canada, the provincial act allows for the addition of items that might not be listed in the Criminal Code and allows police to seize the items on the spot.  

Additions included knives, swords, machetes (ie. blades), body armour, explosive devices, and wildlife control products, such as bear spray.  

In his written submission to council, city solicitor Mitch Holash explained that one of the purposes of the provincial law is to give police the ability to seize more weapons in public spaces but the law has yet to be challenged.  

“While the constitutionality of the provincial legislation has not yet been tested by the courts, there is compelling argument to support its constitutionality, particularly in situations where the definition of weaponry or the prohibited location of dangerous weapons would be found by a court not to be covered under the Criminal Code’s existing sections,” Holash said.  

Other cities have already opted in including Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Melfort and Yorkton. 

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com