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This summer, people in Saskatchewan could legally be able to drink in public parks — if their municipality gives the OK.
Last week, the bill to allow municipalities to make the call got royal assent and the minister responsible for the SLGA, Lori Carr, said the government just has to wait for an order in council. That’s expected to be in effect for the summer.
“Municipalities still have the autonomy to decide if they want to allow drinking in the parks, so they will, as they move forward, decide if that is suitable for their community,” said Carr.
The provincial bill only gives cities and towns the ability to make the change; it doesn’t force them to. If a change is made, Carr said other rules will still apply like no public intoxication and no underage drinking.
The Saskatchewan NDP joined in on passing the bill.
“We believe that local voices at the table are really important. Local voices know their communities and so we trust that municipalities will be able to make the decisions they need to to work for them,” explained Nathaniel Teed, the NDP’s SLGA critic.
The NDP had opposed the same bill being fast-tracked through the Legislative Assembly last spring, saying it wanted more time to consult with people about it. The bill died when the session ended but the government brought it back in the fall.
Now, though, Teed said the NDP has been able to have those conversations.
Nothing is changing around cannabis – it is still illegal to consume in public places.
Carr said the government isn’t looking at making any changes with that because people aren’t asking for it.
Teed said he has brought up the cannabis issue at committee but he also thinks there needs to be more consultation in that area.
Regina and Saskatoon
Regina Mayor Sandra Masters said last year that she would want to learn more about what’s happened in other cities before making a move toward alcohol in public parks here.
The biggest public park in the city, Wascana Park, could be a more complicated issue because the city and the Provincial Capital Commission – the park’s governing body – would have to work together on any bylaw changes.
Saskatoon had been one of the municipalities pushing for the change at first, but when Mayor Charlie Clark spoke in the new year about the issue, he seemed to be having second thoughts and looking for more input on the subject.
