Wiebe should fix flawed law

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/03/2025 (198 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After an increase in criminal activity across Manitoba involving machetes and other long-bladed weapons, there are new rules relating to the sale of those items throughout the province. Unfortunately, gaps in those rules impair efforts to reduce the danger posed by those weapons.

Under a new law passed and implemented by the Manitoba government late last year, businesses may only sell the items to adults with photo identification, and must retain records relating to those sales for a minimum of two years. In addition, retailers must store the items in a manner that prevents customers from accessing them on their own.

The law was intended to keep the weapons off the streets and out of the hands of criminals, young offenders in particular, but there are two loopholes that undermine that objective. First, the law doesn’t apply to a number of sharp-edged tools that could potentially be used, or modified to be used, as weapons. That includes any type of saw, pruning shears and hedge trimmers.

Second, the new rules and restrictions only apply to in-person sales. They do not apply to items purchased online and, now that so much retail activity is now conducted online, that’s a problem.

Over the weekend, it was reported that Manitobans are still able to purchase machetes via the Amazon and Walmart websites. A review of those websites, as well as several other retail and online auction sites, reveals countless long-bladed weapons, including swords, long knives, machetes and other bladed items available for purchase through those websites, with home delivery available.

In other words, a purchaser of a machete or other bladed weapon from either of those websites does not need to be an adult, doesn’t need to present photo ID prior to purchasing the item, and doesn’t have to enter a store to purchase it in person. That reality renders the new law pointless and ineffective.

Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe says Amazon and Walmart have ignored his government’s request to prevent the online sale of machetes to Manitobans. He says that his office has written to the companies, requesting that they “comply with the intent” of the law, but that the requests have been ignored.

He says “we’re frustrated that these online retailers aren’t taking this seriously in the way that we were asking them to,” and adds that “They should understand their obligation to be good corporate citizens, in the same way that when we reached out to retailers here, like Canadian Tire or Cabela’s, they were willing to work with us.” Canadian Tire and Bass Pro Shops (formerly known as Cabela’s) only sell machetes in their retail outlets, not online.

Wiebe may be frustrated that Amazon and Walmart have not yet followed the example set by other retailers, but the fact is they are not breaking the law. It is not illegal under Manitoba law to sell machetes and other long-bladed items to Manitobans online.

Given that reality, it is disappointing that Wiebe would unfairly stigmatize two organizations that collectively employ hundreds, if not thousands, of Manitobans and are following the rules.

The problem here isn’t Amazon and Walmart, and they should not be unfairly maligned by our justice minister. Rather, the problem is flawed legislation that was rushed through the legislative process by the Kinew government, despite huge loopholes that render that law impotent to solve the problem it purports to address.

Wiebe and his NDP colleagues were eager to appear “tough on crime,” but failed to draft a law that accomplishes their objective. If they wanted the new law to also apply to online sales, or to prevent shipping of machetes and similar items within the province, such provisions could have been included. Now that the loopholes have been exposed, provisions that close those gaps can be adopted as much-needed amendments to the law.

Beyond that, we note that many crimes involving the use of a machete are committed by adults on probation and/or bail, and by youth offenders who may be subject to similar restrictions. If Wiebe wishes to reduce machete violence in this province, he would be wise to encourage his staff to more rigorously prosecute bail and probation breaches, and to more strictly supervise dangerous young offenders.

The use of machetes and other long-bladed weapons in Manitoba is a serious problem that requires a well-drafted, air-tight solution. The current law does not meet that standard, however. Instead of blaming large retailers for failing to comply with a law they aren’t breaking, we encourage Wiebe to end the misguided finger-pointing and instead fix his flawed law.