10 very strange Canadian laws

How about this: you can’t keep rats as pets in Alberta and you can’t paint your garage purple in Ontario?
While most of these laws seem rather unusual, it is important to note that many of them were passed decades ago. For certain reasons, they are now irrelevant. You can do this every day and not even know you’re violating something.

  1. It is forbidden to pay with a bunch of coins.
    While many Canadians often want to get rid of change by using it to pay for a chocolate bar at the nearest gas station, it is actually illegal to pay for purchases with lots of coins. According to the Canadian government you are only allowed to use 25 Canadian 25-cent coins (the face value of a Canadian one-dollar coin) and 5 Canadian 25-cent coins (the face value of a coin is a quarter of a Canadian dollar). So if you’re thinking about paying $30 for a meal in loonies, it’s actually illegal across the country.
  2. dragging a dead horse down the street is illegal.
    While you may think this law is completely made up, the York Regional Police have confirmed that it is illegal to drag a dead horse down a Yonge Street in Toronto. What makes this law even stranger, however, is that it is only illegal to do it on Sundays. This means that if you want to walk with a dead horse on Monday, you are perfectly free to do so.
  3. it’s illegal to take the blindfold off in public
    Although many of us have publicly removed old bandages from our wounds, under Canadian law it was illegal to do so. Although it’s mega-weird, if you take off your bandage anywhere in public, including parks or sidewalks, you may consider yourself a criminal.
  4. You can’t wear a snake in public
    While this law may seem strange to some, for those who are afraid of snakes, it is the most sensible law on this list. In Fredericton, New Brunswick, it is illegal to carry a snake or any other reptile in public. Yes, you can’t carry a snake down the street with it wrapped around your neck, for example. That said, you can carry your reptile outside as long as you have a cage or container that completely confines the animal.
  5. It’s unacceptable to have too many sales.
    If you’re thinking about getting rid of some of your junk, keep in mind that it’s illegal in Toronto to have too many garage sales in one year. Toronto’s municipal code prohibits more than two garage sales per year in any residential neighbourhood. It is also illegal for a sale to last more than two days.
  6. It is illegal to accidentally scare a child to death
    While it’s already clear that murder is a crime, Canada has one very specific law that sounds a bit odd. According to the Canadian government, it is illegal to scare a sick person or child to death. However, it actually seems unbelievable to scare someone so badly that they die.
  7. It is illegal to vomit trillium.
    Since the trillium flower is a symbol of Ontario, it’s no wonder it holds a special place in the hearts of the province’s residents. If you see one of these beautiful flowers, don’t pick it. It is illegal in Ontario to pick trillium in provincial parks and reserves. However, if you see the plant on your own property, you can pick as many as you want.
  8. It is illegal to bring llamas into national parks
    According to Canada’s National Parks guidelines, it is illegal to bring llamas into any national parks. But that’s not all. Canadians can also be fined if they bring sheep, goats, pigs or live poultry into any national park. So the next time you go on a family trip, don’t put a llama in the car – they simply won’t let you in.
  9. It’s illegal to have a pet rat.
    If you live in Alberta, you can’t have a rat as a pet. Since the 1950s, Alberta has had several laws against keeping rodents.
  10. It is illegal to paint your garage door purple
    If you want to spruce up your home a bit by painting your garage door a new color, you should stay away from purple. In the Kanata area of Ottawa, residents are not allowed to paint their garage door and house doors purple. While not all of these laws apply everywhere in Canada, you should still keep them in mind, especially if you’re going on a trip with your rat, snake and llama, your pockets are full of coins and you’re going to have a 3-day sale before you leave.