As per Statistics Canada:
Canadian police services reported 505 homicides in 2013, 38 fewer than the previous year. The homicide rate fell 8% from 2012 to 1.44 victims per 100,000 population. This marks the lowest homicide rate since 1966.
The overall decrease in homicides was the result of 40 fewer homicides reported in Quebec. The decrease in
Quebec followed two years with higher than average numbers of homicides. There were 68 homicides in the
province in 2013, representing a rate of 0.83 per 100,000 population. This was the lowest rate recorded in Quebec
since reporting began in 1961.
While Quebec experienced a marked decline, six provinces reported modest increases in the number of homicides
in 2013. Taking these increases into account, the homicide rates in nearly every province and territory were below
their 10-year averages in 2013. The exceptions were Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, where
the 2013 homicide rates were above their previous 10-year average.
Homicide rates continued to be generally highest in the West and the North. Provincially, Manitoba reported the
highest homicide rate (3.87 per 100,000 population), followed by Saskatchewan (2.71), Alberta (2.04) and British
Columbia (1.66). Nunavut (11.24) and the Northwest Territories (4.59) reported homicide rates higher than any
province, while there were no homicides in Yukon for the third consecutive year.
Among Canada’s census metropolitan areas (CMAs), Regina reported the highest homicide rate
(3.84 per 100,000 population), followed by Winnipeg (3.24) and Thunder Bay (2.46). Homicide rates were below the
national average in Canada’s two largest CMAs, Toronto (1.34) and Montréal (1.08), while the third largest CMA,
Vancouver (1.72), reported a homicide rate above the national average. No homicides were reported in Moncton,
Firearm-related homicides down, but fatal stabbings increase
There were 131 firearm-related homicides in 2013, down 41 from 2012. This resulted in the lowest rate of
firearm-related homicide since comparable data became available in 1974. Despite the decline, shooting was the
cause of death in about one-quarter (27%) of homicides.
The majority (68%) of firearm-related homicides were committed with the use of a handgun, a trend that has held
over the last 20 years. Despite this trend, the rate of handgun-related homicides reached its lowest point
since 1998.
While firearm-related homicides decreased in 2013, the number of fatal stabbings grew. There were 195 fatal
stabbings, 31 more than in 2012. Stabbings accounted for 40% of all homicides in Canada in 2013.
Gang-related homicide declines
Police confirmed or suspected the involvement of gangs in 85 homicides in 2013. This compares with 96 reported in
the previous year and marks the first decline after three years of no change. The rate of gang-related homicide
was 0.24 per 100,000 population, its lowest level since 2004.
The rate of gang-related homicide was highest in British Columbia and Manitoba, the only two regions where the
number of gang-related homicides increased compared with 2012. Among CMAs, Kelowna and Regina recorded
the highest rates of gang-related homicide. Rates of gang-related homicide tend to be higher in CMAs than in
non-CMAs, a trend that continued in 2013.
Most victims knew the accused person
Almost 9 in 10 (87%) solved homicides in 2013 involved a victim being killed by someone they knew, compared
with 13% of victims who were killed by a stranger. As a result, the rate of stranger homicide
(0.14 per 100,000 population) was the lowest recorded in over 40 years.
More specifically, victims of homicide in 2013 typically knew the accused person as an acquaintance (45%), a
family member (33%) or through a criminal relationship (9%). While the number of homicides involving strangers
decreased 25% in 2013, those involving acquaintances or non-spousal family members were relatively stable. The
number of homicides committed in the context of a criminal relationship increased 57% from 23 to 36.
Fewer intimate partner homicides
The number of victims of intimate partner homicide (homicide committed by a current or former spouse,
common-law partner, dating partner or other intimate partner) decreased in 2013. There were 68 intimate partner
homicides reported in 2013, 14 fewer than in the previous year. As has been the case historically, most victims of
intimate partner homicides were female (82%).
The rate of intimate partner homicide for both male and female victims has declined considerably over the past two
decades. The 2013 intimate partner homicide rate for males was 73% lower than it was in 1993, while the rate for
females (-48%) declined by nearly half over the same period.
Most solved homicides are solved within one week of their occurrence
Since 2003, about three-quarters (76%) of all homicides that occurred have been solved by police. Of these,
nearly 7 in 10 (69%) were solved within 7 days. A further 26% were solved between 8 and 364 days, while 5% were
solved one year or more after the incident occurred.
