Dateline: 07/22/07
The 2006 Canadian crime rate was the lowest in 25 years primarily due to the statistics for non-violent crime, according to Statistics Canada. A drop in the number of break-ins, thefts under $5000 and counterfeiting resulted in a decrease of three percent in the overall Canadian crime rate since 2005, and a drop of 30 percent since a high in 1991.
While the violent crime rate was on a par with 2005, the national murder rate went down 10 percent, after rising for two years. There were increases in other serious violent crimes however, such as attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.
Murder Rate in Canada in 2006
The total number of murders in Canada reported by police in 2006 was 605, giving a national murder rate of 1.85 homicides per 100,000 population. That compares to the murder rate in the mid-1970s of around 3.0.
The murder rate went down in all provinces in 2006, especially in Ontario. The highest murder rates in 2006 were in the Western provinces, with the Saskatchewan murder rate leading. Saskatchewan had 40 homicides, with a murder rate of 4.1 per 100,000 population.
Serious Violent Crimes in Canada in 2006
The number of most serious violent crimes increased in 2006, including attempted murders, aggravated assaults, and assaults with a weapon/causing bodily harm.
The rate of robberies rose six percent, and about one out of every eight robberies involved a firearm.
Property Crime in Canada in 2006
In 2006, break-ins in Canada dropped to the lowest level in 30 years. There were about 250,000 break-ins reported in 2006 in Canada, about 60 percent of which involved homes.
About 160,000 vehicles were stolen in Canada in 2006, down two percent from 2005. Overall, the rate of vehicle thefts in Canada has gone down about 20 percent in Canada in the last decade. The rate for vehicle thefts varies dramatically across the country though, with Manitoba having a vehicle theft rate increase of 14 percent, and Alberta an increase of 13 percent. In contrast British Columbia had a decrease of 16 percent in the rate of vehicle thefts.
Drug Crimes in Canada in 2006
Drug crimes were up by two percent in Canada in 2006.
Cocaine offences increased 13 percent, a rise of 67 percent since 2002.
Crystal meth drug offences went up eight percent.
Cannabis offences, which make up about 60 percent of all drug offences in Canada, were down four percent in 2006. About 75 percent of cannabis offences were for possession.
