15 Super Weird Laws in Canada That Make Americans Laugh and Cringe
Every country has its quirks, and Canada is no exception. From rules about witchcraft to tree climbing, the Great White North seems to have found all sorts of things it would rather not permit.
Of course, Canada isn’t alone in this. Almost every nation has at least a few laws that don’t make sense; most of the time, they’re not enforced.
That said, if you plan on visiting Canada soon, you might want to pay attention to this list. It’s never a good idea to break the rules as a tourist. We’d hate to see you punished for trying to buy a Superman comic or accidentally scaring the King.
1: No Pet Rats
In Alberta, Canada, you cannot own a pet rat. They’re considered a pest and a nuisance. We all know rats spread the plague, but surely today’s pet varieties aren’t so bad.
Alberta lawmakers don’t agree. They say a rat could multiply if it gets loose, creating a hard-to-mitigate pest problem.
2: No Pretending To Be a Witch
According to Canada’s Criminal Code Section 365, pretending to practice witchcraft is a crime punishable by law. This includes pretending to tell fortunes and acting like you have “knowledge of an occult or craft science.”
The law stems from British rulings going back to 1542 when people were much more suspicious of witches and witchcraft. Thankfully, Canadian lawmakers repealed this section of the criminal code in 2018, making Halloween much more enjoyable.
3: No Trick-or-Treating After 16
In 2017, City Counselors in New Brunswick, Canada, passed a law banning anyone aged sixteen or older from trick-or-treating. The fine for trying to collect candy as an older teen is $200.
The 2017 law was actually a more flexible version of a law that had been in place since 2005, which banned trick-or-treating for anyone over 14. Opponents to the law noted that it was nearly impossible to enforce, given that children and teens don’t typically carry IDs.
4: Don’t Scare the King
According to Section 49 of Canada’s Criminal Code, it’s illegal to “act with an intent to alarm” his majesty. Doing so could result in a stay behind bars of up to 14 years.
So, if you happen to be in the presence of the King, it’s best to mind your p’s and q’s. Avoid practical jokes, and definitely don’t say, “Boo!”
5: Keep Dog Sleds Off Sidewalks
In Hay River, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, it’s illegal to use a dog sled on the sidewalk. While this law may sound bizarre to anyone living in the U.S., especially those in more southern climates, it actually makes a lot of sense in Northern Canada.
Dogs running at full clip down a sidewalk while attached to a sled could easily cause an accident. Given that the Northwest Territories are a popular place for dog sledding, this may have been something Hay River truly needed to address.
6: Don’t Wear Your Snake in Public
Snake lovers should keep their reptiles at home when visiting Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Section 2.13 of the city’s animal control bylaws states that “no person shall have, keep or possess a snake or other reptile upon the street or in any public place.”
While the history of the law is unclear, it may have to do with the six-and-a-half-foot-long boa constrictor that escaped to roam the city in 2015. Reports at the time indicated that the snake’s owner was seen wearing the snake while walking around town before it managed to escape.
7: Tree Climbing Prohibited
Be careful if you plan to climb a tree in Ontario, Canada. In Oshawa, tree climbing is a banned activity.
Supposedly, lawmakers in the city of Oshawa banned tree climbing to protect its citizens. They were apparently worried that people would climb trees in an outrageous and unsafe manner. However, some local citizens say the law is a real inconvenience since they can’t climb up and pick an apple, build a duck blind, or save their adventurous kittens.
8: No Painting Wooden Ladders
If you think the ladders in Alberta look a bit plain, don’t go looking for a can of paint to spruce them up. Doing so is against local laws.
The wooden ladder rules, as reported by Global News, are part of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code. Supposedly, leaving the ladder without paint allows users to better assess its condition before climbing it.
9: Don’t Swear in the Park
In Taber, Alberta, swearing, screaming, or yelling in any public place could land you a $150 fine. Spitting is also punishable but will only cost you $75.
According to Global News, the bylaw that bans public outrage also requires teens under 16 to follow an 11:00 pm curfew and blocks all graffiti, even on your own house. “The consent of the property owner to place graffiti on the property shall not be a defense,” it says.
10: No T-Shirts for Taxi Drivers
Taxi drivers in Halifax must meet a professional standard that seems outrageous to many travelers. While there’s nothing wrong with dressing professionally, this particular municipal code seems a bit over the top.
It reads: “Every driver while in control of a taxi or accessible taxi shall wear a shirt or military type blouse with a collar and sleeves (no T-shirts), ankle-length trousers, or dress shorts which are worn within at least three inches of the knee, socks and shoes, which clothing shall be in a neat and tidy condition at all times. Every female driver may, in place of ankle-length trousers, wear a skirt.”
11: No Waterskiing After Sunset
It doesn’t matter where you are in Canada; waterskiing after sunset is a crime. According to Canada’s Criminal Code, “Everyone who operates a vessel while towing a person on any water skis, surfboard, water sled or other object during the period from one hour after sunset to sunrise is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.”
In other words, getting caught waterskiing in the Great White North after sunset could land you in prison for up to six months. You may also be subject to a hefty $5,000 fine.
12: No Publishing or Selling Crime Comics
To be fair, this law is rarely, if ever, enforced nowadays, but technically speaking, the Canada Criminal Code includes a section that outlaws crime comic books. In an interview with Global News, Bob Tarantino, a media and entertainment lawyer, noted that the law is broad enough to outlaw all the major superhero comics, like Batman, Spiderman, and Superman.
Legislators wrote the law in the late 1940s after public pressure to regulate the comic book industry peaked. In 1948, two boys pretending to be highway bandits shot and killed a man in British Columbia. When the media noted the boys were avid comic book readers, the public demanded a legislative response.
13: Don’t Use Too Many Coins to Make Purchases
Money is money, right? In most of the world, that’s true, but in Canada, using too many coins to make a purchase can devoid your legal tender.
According to the Canadian Currency Act, using too many coins to make a purchase is illegal. There’s a long list of what coins you can and can’t use in certain situations, but the essence is that if you use too many, the seller need not accept your purchase.
14: No Sledding
If there’s one thing Canada has a lot of besides delicious maple syrup, it’s snow. However, one of the cherished snow-play activities is controversial in the Great White North.
According to reports, Toronto legislators banned sledding on 45 of the city’s most beloved hills. In an attempt to block tobogganers, the city refuses to put hay bales or padding at the bottom of hills, which it did in the past. Of course, a lack of safety measures doesn’t mean sledders will quit.
15: Don’t Make Fun of Christianity
Lawmakers repealed this law in 2018, but for a long time, making fun of Christianity was a crime in Canada. The law used to state “publishing blasphemous libel” was punishable by up to two years in jail.
The last person to be charged with this crime was Rev. Victor Rahard, who in 1935 put up posters containing so-called “blasphemous libel.” Rahard was an Anglican minister, and the writing poked fun at the Roman Catholic Church.
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