Recently released statistics show that violent crime involving firearms has dropped by 5% in Canada between 2020 and 2021.
According to Statistics Canada, violent crime in general has increased by 4%, but due to a decrease in gun-related crime in urban areas, there is an overall decline in this type of crime.
However, the rate of firearm-related violent crime was 25% higher than 10 years ago across the country.
“As has always been the case in Canada, violent crimes committed with firearms represent a small proportion of all crimes that come to the attention of the police. In 2021, the 8,047 victims of crimes committed with a firearm represented 2.6% of all victims of violent crimes,” said Statistics Canada.
The decrease in violent crimes committed with a gun is mainly attributable to Ontario, where there were 522 fewer victims of violent crimes committed with a firearm in 2021.
Significant declines were observed in the census metropolitan area of Toronto. The data shows a 22% drop in the rate of violent crimes committed with a firearm in this region compared to 2020.
After Ontario, the other largest decreases were recorded in Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia.
In Nova Scotia, the significant decline is explained in part by the April 2020 mass shooting in the province, where 22 people were killed, making it the deadliest shooting in Canadian history.
Among the provinces with the highest rates of violent crime involving a firearm in 2021 are Saskatchewan, at 83 per 100,000 population, and Manitoba, at 58 per 100,000 population.
The lowest rates were observed in British Columbia at 18 per 100,000 population, Newfoundland and Labrador at 15 per 100,000 population and Prince Edward Island at 7 per 100,000 inhabitants.
It is important to note that in this analysis, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey data on violent crimes committed with a firearm exclude the province of Quebec due to data quality concerns. Datas. Among other things, a high proportion was recorded for incidents in which the most dangerous weapon on the scene was declared to be unknown.
Statistics Canada says handguns were involved in 54% of violent crimes committed with firearms, making them the firearm most commonly used in violent crime last year.
Increase in firearm homicides
The firearm homicide rate increased by 6% in 2021, bucking the trend for violent crime.
Homicide Survey data includes the population of Quebec.
Homicide includes first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, and infanticide. Statistics Canada describes violent crimes as criminal acts “involving the use or threat of violence against a person. These crimes include homicide, attempted murder, assault, sexual assault and robbery. »
Police services in Canada reported 297 homicide victims involving a firearm. This is the highest rate of police-reported firearm homicides since 1992.
There has been an increase in the number of firearm homicide victims in Ontario (+20), British Columbia (+14) and Quebec (+6). Declines were recorded in Alberta (-15) and Nova Scotia (-12).
Homicides committed with a firearm accounted for 40% of all murders committed in Canada in 2021, making it the leading cause of death among homicide victims for the sixth consecutive year. Stabbings rank second with 32%, followed by blows (17%) and other methods (10%).
Since 1995, handguns have been the type of gun most often used in firearm homicides in Canada. In 2021, this type of weapon accounted for 57% of murders, while rifles or shotguns were responsible for 26% of homicides.
In 2021, 95% of victims of handgun homicides were in urban areas.
Along with the release of this new data, MPs are considering legislation to further restrict the availability of what the government considers assault-type firearms, regulations to limit the number of handguns in the Canada being already in force.