The rise in murders in Canada is mainly attributable to gangs in Vancouver and Montreal in 2021, according to the most recent data from Statistics Canada. Despite everything, Quebec remains among the provinces with the fewest homicides per capita.
“Relatively rare”
In 2021, there were 788 homicides in Canada, 29 more murders than in 2020. This is an increase of 3%. Homicides remain “relatively rare” in the country, according to Statistics Canada, despite a third increase in three years. They represent less than 0.2% of all violent crimes reported to police in 2021.
In Quebec, there were 88 murders in 2021, making it the second province with the fewest homicides per capita. At the forefront is Prince Edward Island, which recorded no murders in 2021.
Homicides and gangs
Of the 788 homicides, 184 were gang-related, or 23% of all murders nationwide. The number of gang-related homicides has never been higher since Statistics Canada began keeping track of this kind of data in 2005.
In Montreal, there were 19 gang-related murders in 2021 (out of a total of 48), an increase of 11 from the previous year. Vancouver is recording the largest increase (+13) in homicides involving criminal groups.
When population size is considered, however, Regina, Saskatchewan has the highest rate of gang-related homicides at 3.03 per 100,000 population. In Montreal and Vancouver, the rate is more like 0.44 and 1.05 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Firearms often used
In 2021, 40% of homicides were committed with a firearm. Pointed weapons were used in 32% of murders and “blows” in 17% of homicides. In the case of firearm murders, a handgun was used in 57% of cases and a shotgun or rifle in 26% of cases.
Montreal also has one of the lowest firearm homicide rates in the country (0.58 per 100,000 inhabitants) among cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants. In Quebec, there were 5 murders in 2021, but none with a firearm. Edmonton (1.35) and Winnipeg (1.32) have the worst firearm homicide rates among major cities in the country. Among cities with 100,000 to 500,000 inhabitants, Regina (2.65) comes in at the bottom of the pack.
Bad impression ?
Despite what one might think, murders in Quebec have increased from 87 to 88 between 2020 and 2021. Social networks may be responsible for this impression that Quebec, and even more Montreal, is dangerous, believes André Gélinas, retired detective sergeant from the Montreal City Police Department. “At the start of my street gang career, in 2004-2006, there were a lot of shootings. In the bars, there was shooting every weekend, but we heard little about it, he said. Today, news travels very quickly and everyone becomes a potential journalist with their cell phone. News about the shootings goes out on social media and it gets bigger. In 2004, there were indeed 111 homicides in Quebec.
High proportion of Aboriginal victims
In 2021, of the 752 homicide victims for whom identity information was available, 190 were Indigenous. This number represents 25% of murder victims. The homicide rate for Aboriginal victims was six times higher (9.17 per 100,000 Aboriginal people) than the rate for non-Aboriginal people (1.55 per 100,000).
Moreover, one-third of homicide victims in the country were racialized people, that is, 247 out of 762 victims for whom information on racialized groups was available. The homicide rate for racialized people (2.51 per 100,000 racialized people) is therefore 38% higher than that observed for the rest of the population (1.81).
Victims of a spouse
In 2021, 17% of homicide victims were killed by a spouse or intimate partner. In 76% of cases, the victims were women, while in 24% of cases they were men. Conversely, women represent only 24% of victims of all homicides.
“Data for the period from 2012 to 2021 also reveals that 28% of female homicide victims in general were believed to have been killed out of frustration, anger or despair, compared to 10% for males. In addition, the proportion of women (10%) killed by jealousy or envy was more than three times higher than that observed among men (3%),” notes Statistics Canada.