Walmart Canada moves to stop machete sales in wake of new Manitoba law

WINNIPEG — Walmart Canada says it will stop selling long-bladed weapons such as machetes across the country, both in-store and online.

The move came after Manitoba passed a law last year to ban in-store sales of machetes and other long-bladed items to minors, and asked online retailers, who are not covered by the law, to follow the spirit of the legislation.

A spokesperson for Walmart Canada did not say whether the change is a direct result of Manitoba’s law and issued only a brief written statement Thursday.

“Walmart Canada is aware of the new legislation related to the sale of long-bladed weapons, which includes machetes,” said Felicia Fefer.

“Our Manitoba stores do not sell long-bladed weapons. Additionally, we will no longer sell long-bladed weapons Canada-wide. We are currently removing them online and from the rest of our stores across the country.”

Machetes have been used in several assaults in Manitoba, including one case last week where a man required surgery after being attacked near a Winnipeg convenience store.

The NDP government passed a bill in December to limit in-store sales of long-bladed weapons to adults with photo ID. Retailers are also required to keep the instruments out of reach of customers and to keep sales records for two years.

There are several exemptions to the law, including hedge trimmers, pruning shears and any type of saw.

Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe twice wrote to large online retail stores to ask them to abide by the spirit of the law by ending sales to minors.

Amazon announced earlier this week it is going further than the law by restricting shipments of long-bladed weapons to all Manitoba addresses, even if the buyer is an adult. Walmart is going even further by ending sales across Canada.

Wiebe said he was pleased.

“That’s going to make communities across the country safer,” Wiebe told reporters.

The former Progressive Conservative government tightened regulations around the sale of bear spray in 2023. Wiebe said early indications from police show the number of violent attacks involving bear spray are down about 25 per cent.

Wiebe has also written to the federal government to support a call by British Columbia to have new restrictions placed on knives with “machete-like characteristics” — potentially by adding them to the existing list of prohibited weapons that includes switchblades.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press