Edmonton residents teamed up with police at City Hall on Tuesday to ask the council to take action. to ban the sale of risky knives in places such as convenience and corner stores.
The knives are not illegal, but supporters argue that their design suggests malicious intent.
Allan Bolstad, a former city councillor and current board member with the Alberta Avenue Community League, pointed out that these knives are not intended for everyday use.
“No, when you hold these in your hand you realize they’re for one purpose only, and that’s to — when you’re in a fight — kill the other person.”
Bolstad visited several convenience stores and photographed the knives available for purchase, concluding that they are too easily accessible.
The Edmonton Police Service shares this perspective.
“We’re confiscating weapons and knives from youths, as well as bear spray,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Keef. “This is something we need to focus on more and limit access to.
EPS, along with eight community members, presented a petition to the urban planning committee on Tuesday.
They reported a 7.5% increase in knife-related crimes in downtown Edmonton between 2022 and 2023, from 236 to 255.
There have already been 41 knife incidents downtown in January and February of this year.
Christy Morin from Arts on the Ave, one of the groups addressing the issue at city hall, emphasized the need for restrictions.
“We simply want the knives to be completely restricted from convenience stores,” Morin stated.
“Why does a convenience store need to sell ice cream, Skittles and blades?”
Morin, Bolstad, and other community advocates are urging the city to create a new category called 'restricted knives' and to require stores to apply for a special business license to sell them, along with adhering to strict safety protocols.
They propose that the system could be similar to the regulations surrounding the sale of guns, limited to specific stores such as hunting shops.
They suggest that sales in these stores may require identification and could involve keeping the products out of plain sight, similar to the display of cigarettes.
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Sarah Ryan / Global News
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi shares their concerns.
“From my perspective, we should have zero tolerance for lethal weapons that cause harm,” Sohi commented.
On Tuesday afternoon, the committee unanimously approved a motion for city administration to address the issue effectively.
“Currently, we are aware that community members feel unsafe, and there has been a surge in violence involving weapons, particularly,” said Ward Metis Councillor Ashley Salvador.
“Taking decisive action sends a message to the community that this council is prioritizing safety,” she added.
In the past, the Alberta Avenue community has requested individual store owners to stop selling these knives, but Morin stated that they reappeared on the shelves shortly after being removed.
She believes that knife sales are financially lucrative for store owners and is of the opinion that the city needs to intervene.
“In my view, this goes beyond a polite request and involves taking concrete steps in this discussion,” Salvador remarked.
