Maple News reports that new analysis of Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) has revealed the country’s safest major cities over the past five years. The CSI offers a more detailed look into crime in Canada by going beyond simply counting incidents. Instead, it evaluates the seriousness of offences based on actual court sentencing data, giving higher weights to more severe crimes and lower weights to minor infractions. The Index is standardized to a base score of 100 from the year 2006, allowing for quick comparisons across cities and over time.
Unlike traditional crime rates, the CSI offers a nuanced view of safety by factoring in both the volume and gravity of different crimes. For newcomers considering their future communities, this tool can provide valuable insight—but should be interpreted alongside other factors such as economic conditions, employment opportunities, housing, education, and quality of life.
Based on data averaged from 2019 to 2023, Quebec City recorded the lowest CSI score at 45.73, making it the safest major city in Canada by this measure. Barrie, Ontario comes in second with a CSI score of 47.71, followed closely by Toronto (51.54), and Ottawa-Gatineau (55.59). Other Ontario cities with notably low crime severity include Hamilton, St. Catharines-Niagara, Kingston, London, and Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo.
Montreal, Quebec has a moderate CSI score of 59.98, while Halifax and St. John’s are among the safest cities in the Atlantic region, with scores of 66.92 and 72.92 respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, cities such as Winnipeg (125.82), Kelowna (120.51), Saskatoon (114.85), and Regina (113.18) represent higher levels of crime severity among Canadian urban centers. Vancouver and Edmonton also rank higher on the index, with scores of 90.74 and 105.16, respectively.
Outside of Canada’s largest Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs), the territories report notably higher CSI scores: Yukon at 215.87, Nunavut at 390.66, and the Northwest Territories leading the list at 427.88. These elevated numbers reflect the unique and often complex social challenges facing northern and remote communities.
The CSI is further broken down into the Violent Crime Severity Index—which includes serious offences such as criminal harassment and forcible confinement—and the Non-Violent Crime Severity Index, covering matters like drug offences and non-violent property crimes. This dual breakdown provides a deeper understanding of the specific safety concerns in different areas.
While the CSI is an important resource for immigrants, students, and families planning to settle in Canada, it is not a standalone metric. A holistic approach that includes demographic trends, community services, healthcare access, and cultural compatibility is essential for making well-informed relocation decisions.
Maple News encourages prospective immigrants and residents to explore this data as part of a broader toolkit for evaluating where in Canada to call home.