Melfort Council passes Safe Public Spaces Bylaw

Case outlined a few reasons why the Act would help the local detachment, one of which was that the threshold is higher in the Criminal Code for items covered in the act such as bear spray, knives, machetes, and other weapons.

Under a Safe Public Spaces Bylaw, the RCMP would have more flexibility to seize those items rather than having to go through the federal Criminal Code. Case said people would need to provide a reasonable explanation as to why they have items like knives or tools in public places.

Case added the Act also covers items not included in the Criminal Code like hypodermic needles or body armor. The RCMP does not have to file criminal charges in these cases, they can merely seize the items, which are usually destroyed.

The Town of Nipawin opted into the Safe Public Spaces Act last month.

Coun. Seth MacNaughton asked S/Sgt. Case whether the body cameras introduced earlier this year have been beneficial. Case said they have helped a lot with liability issues and for evidentiary value for prosecution.

“There’s no more ‘he said, she said,’” Case said.

According to him, the body cams have also helped clear up complaints while also holding the RCMP officers themselves accountable.

In his earlier presentation, Case outlined that the period from July to the end of August was relatively quiet. The Melfort detachment had 533 files over that period, about 100 or more fewer than the average for that time frame. The ongoing concern is the theft under $5,000, which usually stems from quick thefts from vehicles, sheds, or garages.

Council also approved a letter that will be sent to Melfort MLA Todd Goudy and provincial justice minister Tim McLeod asking the government to consider implementing its e-Justice program in the upcoming provincial budget.

The letter from Mayor Glenn George stated that the current adjudication system relies heavily on the provincial court system and costs time and money for relatively minor infractions.

“Municipalities, such as Melfort and many more across your riding also face difficulty in accessing the prosecutions services at provincial court due to the court’s limited resources,” the letter reads.

The letter asked the province to continue with the e-Justice project, as it offers alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and “would free up time and resources to address the backlog for the in-person court system.”

George’s letter said Melfort City Council is “adding its voice to that of SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association) in advocating for the government to prioritize the implementation of this initiative in the upcoming budget.”

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

by Cam Lee

Melfort Council passes Safe Public Spaces Bylaw

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