Saskatoon committee wants drones banned from parks

The city'stransportation committee is recommending council ban drones in parksunless 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?

Clarksaid there are already restrictions on drones flying above public property. The city alsoregulates the use of "model aircraft" in parks.The committee's reportsaysthat 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 peopleare posting more video and imageson the internet that have been captured by drones.

"We are seeing more and more of them out there," he said,"Thepotentialfor essentiallysomebodyto be flying over a backyard and taking pictures of people in their backyardwhen they're not expecting it."

The transportationcommittee isalso 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 situationsincluding search and rescue missions and industrial inspections.

Clark saysapproval could begiven by the city manager on a case-by-case basis.

The matter goes beforecouncil on Thursday.