Crime rate drops in Manitoba but still worst homicide rate in Canada

Reported crimes in Canada declined in 2008 and Manitoba led the way, despite having the highest homicide rate, according to Statistics Canada.

Nationally, both the traditional crime rate and the new Crime Severity Index (CSI) fell by five per cent, meaning that both the volume of police-reported crime and its severity decreased.

According to the report, across the country there were about 77,000 fewer reported crimes in 2008, compared with 2007, including 22,000 fewer break-ins and 20,000 fewer motor vehicle thefts.

The drop in Manitoba's CSI was 14 per cent and the CSI drop in Winnipeg was 19 per cent.

But news isn't all good for the province. Despite improvements in some areas, Winnipeg still has the second-highest homicide rate in the country, behind the combined centres of Abbotsford and Mission, B.C.

The highest homicide rates were in:

• Abbotsford-Mission (4.7 per cent)
• Winnipeg (4.1)
• Regina (3.8)
• Edmonton (3.4)
• Kelowna, B.C. (3.4)
• Calgary (2.9)
• Vancouver (2.4)

With 103 homicides in 2008, Toronto had the most homicides of any census metropolitan area. However, taking population into account, Toronto's rate of 1.9 homicides per 100,000 was just slightly higher than the national average of 1.8.

In terms of provinces, Manitoba topped the list with 4.5 homicides per 100,000 people.

And despite a major drop in motor vehicle thefts of 44 per cent, Winnipeg still led the country in that crime category in 2008.