Ontario government calls on feds to legalize pepper spray for self-defence

https://www.cp24.com/politics/queens-park/2026/03/15/ontario-government-calls-on-feds-to-legalize-pepper-spray-for-self-defence/

41 Comments

  1. BlastingBegins on

    It’s beyond pathetic this even needs to be done. I dont want US style laws either because the school shootings that come with them aren’t worth it, but we can’t let people be defenseless 

  2. LongRoadNorth on

    Should have been legal long ago.

    For what it’s worth dog spray is legal and it’s about 3/4 the strength of pepper spray. And legal to have

  3. Poutine-envy on

    As a woman, I’m all for it. But a thought just occurred to me… could this not be used by aggressors to attack people?.. more specifically women…

    Edit: obviously criminals don’t care about the law. What I meant was that since it would be legal and easier to access by regular citizens including criminals, it would be an easy and legal tool to obtain for nefarious reasons.

  4. GiveUpAndDye on

    Don’t worry, the government will protect us, our family, and our assets.

  5. Sharp_Yak2656 on

    We could also just try not releasing all criminals 5 minutes later to commit more crimes.

  6. CobraCornelius on

    Serious question:
    Can’t we just buy a tiny spray bottle and fill it with hot sauce?

  7. This has always been a confusing law for me. I get it’s a weapon and can be misused, but vulnerable people (particularly women) should be allowed to have some sort of tool for self defense.

  8. AnxiousMeatHead on

    I hope they do, maybe i can finally catch public transit without worrying (too much) about being stabbed.

  9. I’m for that if people have to get proper training on when it would be allowable to use. Just to reduce the number of people getting charged for assault because they maced someone because they got upset.

  10. Hot_Cheesecake_905 on

    Yes, please; people are already carrying dog and bear spray for protection, although it is illegal to deploy it.

    But it is better to be alive than dead, or raped for that matter.

    As for people misusing pepperspray, we already have firearm discharge laws to cover those scenarios.

  11. clearcontroller on

    I mean currently for self defense we are allowed to politely wait to stop being stabbed or beat, then wait for police, then spend months in court, then have the judge release your assaulter in a week because his mommy said he’s a good boy.

  12. Why doesn’t the Ontario government talk about things it can control? Like, maybe the justice system backlog that lets criminals free and stops prosecutions? The one that Doug Ford is in charge of and refuses to address?

  13. puckduckmuck on

    Funny how we didn’t really need this until the Judiciary and the Correctional system were underfunded.

  14. slumlordscanstarve on

    Yes please! We need way more in what victims can use for self defence. 

  15. lcdr_hairyass on

    I, for one, support pepper spray for self-defense. I also support more liberal gun laws and CCC reform to make it less onerous for you to defend your own property. We have a great justice system, but there are a lot of offenders who could benefit from more jail and less bail.

    Also, I am not a massive CPC supporter. Mental health and all that needs improvement and it needs to filter into policing.

    We can do “both and” in this country, it doesn’t have to “either or”.

  16. New_Development9100 on

    Great! I can’t wait to be riding the subway when some idiot decides it would be fun to pepper spray everyone.

  17. Purple_Writing_8432 on

    So if someone enters my house with a loaded gun I am not allowed to do anything?

    Pepper spray sure! Canadian laws are anachronistic: they are based on a high trust and honour system!

    We don’t live in that world anymore!

  18. Most_Poem_3263 on

    The whole self defense system is terrible, a dude got put to court for shooting an intruder in their home with the intruders gun. People just need to take whatever is thrown at them and let the cops/judges handle it afterward

  19. Yes, please.

    The lipstick-case pepper sprays that Americans can have also have a lovely dye that marks the perp for LEO to easily spot, too

  20. Nothing-9099 on

    So if legalized, then everyone will be buying it, and using it at their discretion for any reason and claim it was self defence . I hope this doesn’t go through

  21. KingOfTheIntertron on

    Maybe the police just could do their jobs instead of supporting gangs and organizing hits on each other?

  22. I’d appreciate it if they legalized castle law if an intruder is in my home. I have kids, I should be allowed to protect my family at any and all costs.

  23. Don’t forget the people you will use the pepper spray on will be carrying it along with you.

    Dumb idea.

  24. ScaredExcitement8063 on

    Stupidest attempt to get cheap political points. I care more about housing costs, the unemployment crisis for young people, and inflation.

  25. Affectionate-Remote2 on

    Coyotes have been getting bolder in cities. Maybe it’s not a terrible idea to have coyote spray on you just in case. Nobody has time for getting rabies.

  26. Metalloid_Maniac_ on

    It’s very rare I agree with the OPC on anything, but this is one of those times.

  27. People here can’t even pick up their dog shit and put their dog on a leash. Not so sure how I feel about trusting people with a weapon and to use it properly for actual self-defense.

  28. LemonPress50 on

    You can lock your doors at home but not when camping. I know someone that used pepper spray on someone that tried to enter their tent at 3 am.

    Be careful in the Halliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve.

  29. Miserable_School4450 on

    How dare everyday law abiding citizens think they can defend themselves from criminals… so unLIBERAL.

  30. Gold_Yam_5215 on

    Last week there were 3 separate incidents involving bear spray in our high school. What will keep teens from just madly pepper spraying each other in school?