New data shows that Manitoba saw a rise in gun-related violent crime in 2023; however, this was not the case for the rest of the country.
On Tuesday, Statistics Canada released a report on firearms and violent crime in Canada for 2023, which shows that rates of gun-related violent crime were highest in the Prairies and the territories.
In Manitoba specifically, the rate of firearm-related violent crime increased by 14 per cent in 2023 to 81 incidents per 100,000 population. This puts Manitoba with the fourth highest rate in the country after Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan.
The report notes that Manitoba had particularly high rates in the rural and urban north.
This defies the trend of what was seen across Canada as the country’s rate of firearm-related violent crime dropped by 1.7 per cent. According to Statistics Canada, this dip can be attributed to decreased rates in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories.
As for Winnipeg, the city saw a slight drop in its rate, though it still had the fourth highest rate of all major metropolitan areas behind Red Deer, Regina, and Chilliwack.
Expert unsurprised by data
Michael Weinrath, professor of criminal justice at the University of Winnipeg, said he’s not surprised by the numbers.
He said Manitoba has the issue of a ‘deadly nexus,’ as it deals with the confluence of guns, gangs, and violence.
“When you have a drug market, such as you have in Winnipeg, and you have gangs vying for territory and street gangs, there has to be a commitment to violence to be effective,” he said.
“Then, of course, you get an interest in becoming more lethal, and to do that, you have to access guns.”
Weinrath added that along with gangs, poverty and drug addiction are also driving forces behind these crimes.
“Often you find individuals who are drug addicted and have these mental health issues are often concentrated in low-income areas, and unfortunately that drives other forms of crime,” he said.
Weinrath said these situations are “volatile,” but hopes that government supports, including housing, could have a positive impact.
The full report can be found online.
