The Safe Public Spaces Act came into effect at the start of August and its adoption could be in the cards for Moose Jaw. It has been confirmed that a report on the act will be delivered to Moose Jaw's Executive Committee during their next regular meeting on August 25.
The act allows municipalities to opt-in, granting law enforcement to seize or lay a provincial charge for the possession, transportation and storage of weapons such as knives, hypodermic needles, bladed weapons and bear spray in public spaces when they are intended to be used for a dangerous purpose. The act will also take into account dangerous narcotics such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Moose Jaw's Deputy Mayor Dawn Luhning expressed interest in the act upon its announcement, stating “We are no different than any other communities in the province. There are and have been issues in our community, downtown here in particular, and I feel I can't speak for council, but I would certainly look forward to seeing the report and would imagine that it would be a bylaw that will have no trouble being implemented and passed, I would imagine."
Under the act, public spaces 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 traveling through public spaces.
The act allows police to lay charges as a provincial offence, not under the Criminal Code, with penalties of no more than $5,000 in fines, up to one year in jail, or a combination of both.
With files from Shawn Slaght.