Mayor Stephen Mandel says he will continue to push both the provincial and federal governments to create controls on businesses that sell knives.
Mandel has written a letter to Edmonton-Spruce Grove MP Rona Ambrose to ask Ottawa if the Tory government’s “crime legislation they are putting forward does include legislation on knives,” he said.
“It’s great to put legislation on guns which are a real problem in Ontario, but here in Edmonton, knives are the big issue,” said Mandel to reporters yesterday.
“As your political minister, (Ambrose) said she would look into it, and get back to us as soon as possible.”
Mandel has also asked administration to look into the possibility of changing a city bylaw that could make it control knife sales.
They mayor also wants administration to look how useful a campaign would be to remind people about the knife threat in Edmonton, he said.
Administration is expected to come back with a report later this year.
“Action is needed,” said Mandel during a council meeting yesterday.
Mandel says he’s also going to meet with Premier Ed Stelmach and solicitor general Fred Lindsay on the issue.
