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A Saskatoon business is facing a $7,000 penalty after being convicted for unlawfully selling bear spray and failing to record the information of the buyer, according to the City of Saskatoon.
The fine is broken down into a $2,000 victim surcharge, in accordance with The Victims of Crime Act, $1,500 for unlawfully selling the spray and $3,500 for not recording the buyer’s information.
The decision was made in Saskatoon Bylaw court on June 30 and is the first fine issued by the Court under the city’s update Business Licence Bylaw.
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Saskatoon police accused a business in the 500 block of 20th Street West of breaking the Bylaw, with help from officials with the city. Amendments by city council to those bylaws were passed in 2025 and require a person buying bear spray to be at least 18 and provide two pieces of government-issued identification.
The city requires that the name, ID number, date of birth and address of the buyer be recorded by the business and made available to the city. A business selling bear spray must also store any bear spray in a secure area, away from the view of customers. Only products with a manufacturer’s serial number may be sold.
“Businesses that choose to sell bear spray have a responsibility to do so in accordance with the amendments to the Business License Bylaw,” said Doug McNeil, an inspector in charge of the Saskatoon police’s community engagement division. “When violations are identified, enforcement helps maintain the integrity of those regulations and supports the collective efforts of police, the City, retailers and the community.
“We support measures that promote responsible sales and help reduce opportunities for misuse. Compliance with the bylaw is an important part of a broader community effort to improve public safety.”
Mark Wilson, the permitting manager for the city, said a main goal of the bylaw changes is deterrence.
“Since City Council made the amendments to the bylaw, we’ve subsequently heard from multiple retailers who have decided to stop selling bear spray,” he said.
Bear spray is designed to repel wildlife and is not intended for use on humans or in an urban area, the city said in its release.
“Police officers and City officials have engaged business managers to ensure they understand the bylaw requirements which have received wide support,” the release stated.
