Knives will no longer be sold in convenience stores in Edmonton with the exception of everyday cutlery. The ban is to limit impulsive actions related to knives and is a response to concerns from the community regarding the easy access of knives. “Building a city that’s safer for everyone is our top priority. By removing these easily accessible weapons from convenience stores, Edmontonians will feel more safe,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
The bylaw will be in effect for any new stores applying for a business license and will come into effect when existing businesses are looking to renew their license. The city encourages sellers to take the knives off the shelves in the meantime but the bylaw is expected to take two years to come into effect fully.