Canadian Homicide Rate Drops 10% in 2006

Statistics Canada reported today that the national homicide rate dropped 10% in 2006: 605 homicides were reported last year, 58 fewer than the previous year. However, rates for other serious violent crimes – such as attempted murder, serious assaults and robberies – rose in both 2005 and 2006.

Spouses, partners, family members and close friends were responsible for the vast majority of killings in 2006. Gang-related homicides represented about one-sixth of the total.

The four Western provinces recorded the highest homicide rates. Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick recorded the lowest rates among the provinces. Quebec recorded its lowest homicide rate in 40 years.

Regina reported the highest rate (3.97 homicides per 100,000 population) among Canadian census metropolitan areas, followed by Edmonton (3.68). Toronto, Canada's largest CMA, reported a rate almost identical to the national average (1.83).

Bucking the national downward trend was the Ottawa – Gatineau area, which reported an unusually high number of homicides (25) in 2006. The rate of 3.10 in Gatineau was the highest in almost 20 years, and Ottawa's rate of 1.81 was the highest in over a decade.