Manitoba reviewing 300 Taser incidents

Tasers were used approximately 300 times inManitoba last year, according to the province's attorney general, who's initiated a review of the matter.

About half the cases were in Winnipeg,Dave Chomiak said.

The review will examine each incident in Manitoba, the data availableand the protocols in place.

Chomiak said he knows people are concerned about Taser use in the wake of the death last month of a Polish immigrant who was shocked by an RCMP Taser at the Vancouver International Airport.

"There's clearly a public demand that utilization of Tasers be looked at," he said.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard is calling on the government to go further and put a moratorium on the use of the devices.

"Until we have very clear guidelines as a result of the reviews, we should stop using Tasers in Manitoba," he said.

But Chomiak said an immediateban would deprive police of a valuable tool, and a moratoriumcould put police officers and suspects at greater riskin a physical confrontation.

Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen agreed, and said he was glad the review would take place.

"It is important to do a review of the use [of Tasers] and make sure the protocols are appropriate, that the police use them in the right circumstances and in the right way."

A Taser report is due onChomiak's desk in February.

Canada's provincial and territorial justice ministers agreedduring a meetingin Winnipeg last weekto examine Taser use in their jurisdictions.