Canada is grappling with its highest homicide rate in three decades, marking the fourth consecutive year of an upward trend, according to recent Statistics Canada data.
The national homicide rate rose by almost 8% in 2022, reaching 2.25 homicides per 100,000 population.
This level is the highest it’s been since 1992.
“In 2022, police services across Canada reported 874 homicides, 78 more than in the previous year,” StatCan reported.
While Statistics Canada acknowledged the uptick, it emphasized that homicides remain relatively rare, constituting less than 0.2% of all police-reported violent crimes in 2022.
Manitoba has the highest provincial homicide rate
Manitoba had the highest provincial homicide rate, followed by Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest rates.
The report also highlighted a concerning rise in police officers’ deaths. In 2022, there were five homicides of police officers, whereas the average for the previous 10 years was two police victims.
StatCan also noted an increase in the number of youth accused of homicide, reaching 90 in 2022 compared to 33 the previous year.
Moreover, gang-related homicides accounted for nearly a quarter of the 2022 total, significantly contributing to the overall national increase in homicides compared to 2021.
Firearms were involved in 41% of homicides in 2022, similar to the levels observed in 2021. However, StatCan did not reveal if said firearms were legally owned firearms, or illegally owned.
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