Manitoba government tables bill eyeing rules for sale of machetes, knives, other long-bladed weapons

The Manitoba government is looking to tighten the rules around the sale of machetes, swords and other long-bladed weapons.

A bill now before the legislature would restrict the sale of such weapons to people over 18 with photo identification

It would also require retailers to keep the weapons away from open public access — in order to reduce theft — and to retain records of sales for at least two years.

The move follows some high-profile attacks involving machetes.

In May, a 23-year-old man was charged with robbing another man inside a gambling lounge while armed with a machete. And in August, a 15-year-old boy was badly injured after being attacked by another 15-year-old wielding a machete.

"We know these [weapons] are being used for crime and violent crime," Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Wednesday.

Fines for individuals who break the rules would be as much as $5,000 for a first offence. A corporation would face fines up to $25,000.

The restrictions are similar to measures earlier imposed on bear spray and which have proven successful, Wiebe said. There are legitimate uses for such products, he said, but tight rules around retail sales helps reduce the risk of the product falling into the wrong hands.

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy applauded the bill in part of a news release sent out by the provincial government.

"The AMC looks forward to continue being a part of this conversation and to work with Manitoba to draft a regulatory framework that prioritizes the protection of First Nation citizens in Manitoba," Kennedy said in the release. 

Winnipeg Police Service superintendent Brian Miln also said in a statement that the city's police force supports the bill. 

"Edged weapon and machete attacks have dramatically increased in the last number of years, the consequences of which can cause significant life-altering injuries or sometimes be fatal," he said in the statement. "This legislation is another tool to assist the WPS and law enforcement in keeping these weapons out of the hands of the gang and criminal elements."  

'A good plan for the province' 

Logan Blade, operations manager of Cutting Edge Cutlery Winnipeg, said the bill is a good plan for the province to make the community safer. 

Since the store opened in 2016, all of the knives there have been under lock-and-key, with only staff access allowed, he said. The store has always required photo ID from someone over 18 before they even open a cabinet. 

"It doesn't matter what items you are looking at, we have to have ID visible, by our cameras on the counter before we unlock anything," he said. "And that has always been our rule, regardless of it being a machete, a pocket knife, and unfortunately kitchen knives too, as they do also fall within the realm of things used as weapons." 

But stores that aren't already following those procedures might have growing pains, he said. 

"Too many stores, local department stores, dollar stores, unfortunately just have them out in the open and there is nobody supervising the sale of them whatsoever," said Blade. 

Blade said he hopes retailers whose staff don't get to make the rules themselves will also get behind the proposed legislation. 

"Maybe if this goes through, their staff can sleep a little safer knowing that they're going to have to make that change for the better," he said. 

Meanwhile, the justice minister also said he wants co-operation from out-of-province online retailers such as Amazon.

"This is really incumbent on the online retailers to understand the regulatory environment that they're selling into."