Sask. Introduces Legislation to Label Fentanyl, Meth as ‘Street Weapons’

Evidence bags containing fentanyl are displayed during a news conference at Surrey RCMP Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Sept. 3, 2020. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

The Saskatchewan government has introduced legislation that would categorize some drugs, like fentanyl and methamphetamine, as “street weapons.”

The bill, introduced on April 14, will amend The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act, according to an April 15 news release. The legislation is expected to be passed in the spring session and be put in place by summer, the government said.

It would see fentanyl, methamphetamine and hypodermic needles categorized as street weapons, which the government says “recognizes the significant risk” the drugs present to public safety.

“Once in force, the Act will enable municipalities and First Nations to opt in to new rules to regulate the possession, transportation and storage of items potentially used as street weapons, such as large knives, machetes, hypodermic needles and bear spray,” the release said.

The government said that the changes would include “appropriate exemptions to ensure these items can continue to be used for their lawful purposes,” including medical treatment.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said the announcement is part of the province’s plan to create safer communities across the province.

“This legislation represents a pivotal step in ensuring that public spaces remain places of enjoyment and comfort, free from intimidation, violence caused by street weapons and illicit drugs,” McLeod said in the release.

Emergency Measures

The legislation comes after the province activated an emergency response following a spate of drug overdoses in Saskatoon last month. Fire crews responded to more than 300 drug overdoses between Feb. 25 and March 13, according to government data.

The surge in overdoses was linked to a brownish-red fentanyl batch that contained high fentanyl levels, causing patients to require four or five doses of naloxone to recover, authorities said.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC), was activated on March 12 in response to the “toxic drug crisis” in Saskatoon, the province said at the time. The PEOC is designed to centralize the response between provincial ministries, agencies and organizations to coordinate resources.

The provincial government introduced a Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan in 2023, and said at least 500 more addictions treatment spaces would be added to the publicly funded health-care system.

In 2024, Saskatchewan said it was partnering with Alberta and Ontario to build recovery systems to treat addiction.

As part of that partnership, the provinces would look to Alberta’s recovery model, something that Alberta said it was “eager” to share.