(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Safe space bylaw

Council in Melfort to vote on Safe Space Bylaw

Sep 26, 2025 | 5:00 PM

Melfort could soon be the next community to sign on to a Safe Space Bylaw.

Council will vote at their next meeting whether to adopt a bylaw tied to the Government of Saskatchewan’s Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act.

Nipawin’s Town Council signed off on a bylaw that opted into the act earlier this month.

Melfort’s Director of Corporate Services Lydia Steffen told northeastNOW the government’s act allows municipalities and First Nations to ‘opt in’ to a provincial framework that is aimed at reducing the presence of street weapons and certain dangerous substances in public spaces.

“The bylaw would give law enforcement additional tools to intervene in situations where these items pose a public safety concern,” Steffen explained.

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The proposal would allow police to seize specific prohibited items potentially used as weapons before an incident occurs, if there is a public safety risk.

“This could help reduce visible threats and prevent escalation in public spaces,” said Steffen.

The bylaw would give law enforcement another mechanism under provincial legislation, not just under the Criminal Code, Steffen explained. She said police can seize prohibited items without criminal charges, which could allow for faster interventions in lower-risk scenarios.

“Opting in allows municipalities to make use of the enforcement tools provided under the Act. It also promotes consistency across jurisdictions, particularly for regional policing.”

Steffen said the local RCMP was consulted during the review process and while the RCMP did not make a formal public statement in this case, she said police in other jurisdictions have supported the bylaw as a tool for enhancing public safety.

Council was presented with the proposal at this week’s Governance and Priorities meeting. Steffen said members of that committee requested clarity on how the bylaw would affect law enforcement, how items on – and not on- the list would be handled, and how exemptions would be applied. Council can now review the recommendation and will vote on the bylaw at their next meeting Oct. 6.

“The City is committed to ensuring any bylaw we adopt balances public safety with the rights and needs of our residents,” Steffen said.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com