The Winnipeg Police Service says it's exploring new ways to handle parades and rallies because of the toll it can have on the service's resources.

Winnipeg Police Chief Keith McCaskill says the idea of possibly limiting parades, rallies or protests to one per day is being discussed.

"We believe people should be able to protest, we believe people should be able to have parades," says McCaskill. "We've just got to figure out the best way to use our manpower so that they are protected and everybody else is protected and that's what this is really all about."

Right now a city by-law simply requires anyone with more than 30 people or 10 cars to apply for a parade permit beforehand.

McCaskill says it costs the force about $89 an hour for each officer assigned to work one of those events.

Charging organizers for that service is an option the police chief is considering.

"There are a number of different cities that do that," says McCaskill. "They charge special duty rates for parades and so on so that is certainly an option too."

"If we had to pay for every officer that came in it would be a significant amount for us," says Ron Mark who is the executive director of the Santa Claus Parade.

The annual Christmas parade passes through about 16 intersections every November and requires the help of close to 30 officers help to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Organizers with the Santa Claus Parade hope if the by-law is tweaked, a lengthy heads up will be given for budget's sake.

The police service will prepare a parade report and present it to city hall. It will then be up to councilors to approve any changes.

-- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley