Bear Spray/Dog Spray and the Pest Control Products Act - A Lawyer Explains

This video covers the Pest Control Products Act and its application to dog and bear spray. This law is the source of the threatening documents you are often required to sign when buying bear spray.

All comments for information only. Do not take anything as legal advice--if you have a legal issue, contact a lawyer directly so that you can received advice tailored to your situation. All views expressed are solely those of the creator.

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[zee]

I purchased the small in-hand can on amazon for my wife when she goes for runs by herself. It is meant for any threat no matter how many legs they walk on. We'll deal with any consequences with the law but she will not be defenseless.

[THFC]

I knew a guy in Vancouver who got jumped by a multiple assailants. He happened to be carrying bear spray. He quickly put an end to the attack. The police were involved. He didn't get in trouble. I guess it was seen as a "justified use of force".

[jackrabbit]

Great vid. I would love to see a discussion on what Canadians ARE allowed to do to defend themselves, as it seems the law forbids just about any defensive advantage you could get, and we are supposed to just stand there and let assailants have their way with us. To any ladies reading this, you should be holding our legislators accountable for making you such plum pickings for any rapist or abuser that comes along, as they would have you be completely defenseless. My wife carries a big Spyderco knife in her purse, and she has always said that any man who tries to to have his way with her will pay a very steep price, law-be-damned! As some say, I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six! But it would be interesting to know what exactly our rights of self defense are.

[mouthbreather]

Regular pepper spray or OC spray shouldn’t be prohibited in Canada. Seems like the most least violent “weapon” that is in the prohibited weapons list. That aside, these prays shouldn’t be regulated either, federally, provincially or otherwise except unless it’s used in a crime.

[Morpheen]

If you have to use spray on a bear, at that point its defiantly not a pest.. its a deadly threat, your at great risk of serious, potentially fatal bodily harm!

[PFMediaServices]

Ian, I recently discovered your channel and would like to say how happy I am with your content. As a Canadian, most of the law-related media I've encountered has triggered the "close, but not quite" asterisk in my brain but I didn't know how to find what would more properly apply to my location, and still be interesting enough to consume. (I tried watching DaVinci's Inquest but it couldn't compete with CSI, even with the novelty of recognizing

It's also a delight to consider that I could very well run into you on the street while going about my normal life. The only other nearby YouTuber I follow keeps their appearance anonymous, so it might already have happened.

So, anyway, thank you thank you! 🇨🇦🍍

[hagbard]

Dont' want to give law making powers to Parliament either. Should be legal to use this stuff on politicians.

[GMANBC]

Could you explain why self defense comes down to minute details when its citizens but not police ? Why citizens do not enjoy the same scrutiny as police, even if they are off duty.

[blindnedm]

one time i was a young troublemaker,
I assure everyone im not like that anymore.
Well my cousin was over in my apartment and he had some bear spray on him from northern ontario
and some people he didnt like was in the apartment on the second floor.
he essentially unloaded the whole can on that floor, it was insane. you couldn't stay in the building- let alone that floor.
the cops came obviously maybe an hour after and they knew he did it im sure, but they said and im not shitting you "okay let us spray pepper spray you then - and we'll call it even"
I laughed nervously, and i think my cousin did too. and then they left. nothing ever happened after that.
my cousin now smokes meth and is in and out of jail and sobriety.

just an interesting anecdote. no point really.

[JohnDoe-ksxx]

Hey Ian. I'm interested in seeing a video in regards to all the advice you can give if someone where in a roadside stop. I understand it might not be exactly to your strengths but would be interesting none the less

[troyboy]

Laws injure more people than criminals.

[GrayeWilliams]

I live right next to ground zero in Vancouver. I have a security camera pointed at the street just to capture some of the crazy shit that goes on. There have been two bear spray attacks in the last two months; you'll see two people beefing and suddenly everyone's running for cover, including the attacker. I guess the same folks who would carry this stuff to settle an argument aren't the kind that reads the label, especially the "move to a safe distance" part afterwards.

[AlexR]

Product: *Must be stored in cool dry place*
Me: *Puts product in warm humid place*
Product: Wait that's illegal

[halkael]

The best bear defence is carry “bear bells” and carry bear spray.
Also, if you want to know the difference between blackbear scat and grizzly scat... blackbear piles will be black in colour and you might see berries in it.
A grizzly pile will have bells in it and smell like pepper! 😳

[wild_goose_]

Hey Ian. I'm a new subscriber, and can you cover pepper ball guns under Canadian Law? I.e. essentially paintball guns that shoot pepper balls for self-defense purposes.
Could also discuss what would constitute "reasonable force" under Canadian law? I've seen some videos on the matter and they often leave you with vague language. So I'd love to see that.

[leom]

So if im in the wild and a cougar, wolf, or pack of coyotes try to attack me i can't use the bear spray?

[johnmckenna]

I was a letter carrier when we were given the option to carry "Halt" (a dog many years it became mandatory for us to sign for it, so we could no longer pass it on to joggers and other customers who would ask if we had any to Canadian, to be smothered to death with "safety" regulations, I think I may still have a can or two around, but it's far outdated by now it's useless if there's a breeze or the dog is moving fast, ....or both...so, carry a ball and tell the dog to "go fetch", your chances of avoiding injury are much better....

[jeice]

I find it interesting that in another video they gave an officer a $2000 fine for assault but here it equates to 6 months in jail. So assaulting a restrained person while on duty as a police officer is worth roughly 2 days in jail despite claims that breach of trust results in harsher sentences

[TaxpayerDave]

Thanks Ian! Never even knew that was a law. Thought the "misuse" penalties were just criminal code.

[MegaMech]

Now I want to create my own line of pest control products. The label would say something to the effect of "Operator shall spin around three times while quoting Monty Python's knights who say knee saying before use. This is likely exactly the reason why I'm not an owner of a pest control product...