Homicide rate dropped in the Maritimes in 2021, but gang-related killings increased: Statistics Canada
New numbers from Statistics Canada show the homicide rate decreased in all three Maritime provinces in 2021, but gang-related killings increased in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Monday’s “Homicide trends in Canada, 2021” report does point out that last year’s numbers for Nova Scotia had a sizable decrease due to the high homicide count resulting from the mass shooting of 22 people in 2020.
Nova Scotia’s homicide rate was down 1.45 per cent in 2021, compared to 2020, with 23 homicides recorded in 2021, compared to 37 in 2020. Eleven of the homicides happened in the Halifax area.
New Brunswick homicide rate was down 0.4 per cent last year. The province saw 14 homicides in 2020 and 11 in 2021. Two of those occurred in Moncton and one happened in Saint John.
Prince Edward Island saw no homicides in 2021 -- down 0.62 per cent compared to 2020, when one homicide was reported.
However, the national homicide rate has increased for a third consecutive year.
There were 788 homicides in Canada last year -- up three per cent from 2020. It marked the highest rate of homicides in Canada since 2005.
GANG-RELATED KILLINGS
Nearly one-quarter of killings in 2021 -- 184 -- were connected to gangs.
There were 33 additional gang-related homicides in 2021, compared with 2020, resulting in the highest rate -- 0.48 per cent -- recorded in Canada in 16 years.
Nova Scotia saw an increase in gang-related homicides, with five killings -- or 21.7 per cent -- being gang-related in 2021, compared to 0 gang-related homicides in 2020. Three of the gang-related homicides were in the Halifax area.
"That suggests that the Halifax Regional Police in the province of Nova Scotia need to do more outreach to those communities that are being affected by gang-related violence," said Michael Boudreau, a criminology professor at St. Thomas University.
Nova Scotia RCMP uses the crime numbers to pinpoint trends and create priority-policing strategies.
"A lot of times our local commanders and our local officers, members will work with their community and their elected officials to identify what specific issues a community is facing," said Nova Scotia RCMP Cpl. Chris Marshall.
That includes a task force focused on reducing gang violence.
"Here in the city, specifically and the Halifax district, we have a guns and gangs unit that its specific mandate is to deal with gang violence, but all across the province we have what we would call street crime units as well," said Marshall.
New Brunswick also saw a spike in gang-related homicides in 2021, with two killings -- or 18.2 per cent -- being gang-related. New Brunswick did not report any gang-related homicides in 2020. One of the gang-related deaths happened in the Moncton area.
FIREARMS
The report found that firearms remain the most common murder weapon, with two in five homicide victims -- or 40 per cent – having been shot. Almost half of firearm-related homicides were identified as gang-related.
Overall, the national firearm-related homicide rate increased by 6 per cent, compared with 2020.
Nova Scotia had the second highest firearm-related homicide rate in the country in 2021, with 1.21 shooting deaths per 100,000 population. Twelve people were killed in shootings in 2021 in Nova Scotia.
Saskatchewan had the highest firearm-related homicide rate, with 1.86 shooting deaths per population.
Among mid-sized Canadian cities, Halifax had the second highest firearm-related homicide rate, at 1.74 per population of 100,000. Eight Halifax homicide victims were killed in shootings.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
South Korean sentenced to 14 months in jail for killing 76 cats
South Korean man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for killing 76 cats in one of the country's most gruesome cases of animal cruelty in recent years.