Saskatoon committee wants drones banned from parks

The city's transportation committee is recommending council ban drones in parks unless the city grants special permission.

"The primary concern is privacy," said Charlie Clark, chair of the committee. 

"Really we're in a situation where the technology has arrived and it's creating question marks across the country about how do you ensure that people's privacy is protected when these things are launched and flying around taking photographs and film."

• Do you think drones should be banned in parks?

Clark said there are already restrictions on drones flying above public property. The city also regulates the use of "model aircraft" in parks. The committee's report says that the 1998 bylaw could be amended to regulate the use of drones. 

He noted there have been some safety concerns about the devices. However, he is not aware of a spike in the number of complaints from citizens. 

Clark said more people are posting more video and images on the internet that have been captured by drones. 

"We are seeing more and more of them out there," he said, "The potential for essentially somebody to be flying over a backyard and taking pictures of people in their backyard when they're not expecting it." 

The transportation committee is also suggesting council deny a request from a Saskatoon-based drone company for
permission to fly drones over city property whenever it wants.

Draganfly Innovations builds drones designed for a number of situations including search and rescue missions and industrial inspections. 

Clark says approval could be given by the city manager on a case-by-case basis.

The matter goes before council on Thursday.