TORONTO - The Ontario government has ordered a new review of some Tasers used by police to make sure they are functioning properly.
Concerns arose after CBC reported that one Taser model, the X26, used by police forces sent out higher voltage than specified by the manufacturer.
A government spokesman says police in Ontario have been asked to test and provide an inventory of X26 models manufactured before 2006.
Tony Brown of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services says there are about 2,000 conducted-energy weapons used by police in Ontario, excluding those used by the RCMP.
The province started its own review of the use of Tasers earlier this year, which Brown says should be concluded early in the new year.
But police don't have to report back to the ministry with the results from the Taser tests.
"We have every confidence that the police services will take the actions necessary," Brown said.
More than 20 people in Canada have died after being zapped with a Taser, but Taser International says the devices cannot be blamed for the deaths.
In British Columbia last week, all stun guns acquired before Jan. 1, 2006, were pulled from service for further testing. Alberta also announced it would test all X26 models purchased before Jan. 1, 2006.
Unlike several other jurisdictions across the country, Alberta won't take the Tasers out of circulation unless tests show there's something wrong.
Last week, B.C. prosecutors said there would be no charges against four RCMP officers who used a Taser to stun Polish citizen Robert Dziekanski at the Vancouver airport before he died in October 2007.
A review found Dziekanski's death was not directly caused by the Taser jolts but they were a contributing factor, along with heart disease, alcohol withdrawal, and decreased ability to breathe due to an officer kneeling on him.
Tasers have been approved for use by police in Ontario since 2002, Brown said.
