By the numbers

Harper’s focus on terrorism may be missing the mark

Let’s talk a little bit about perspective as we cruise ever-closer to a federal election that may centre on what party is better equipped to keep Canadians safe — most of all, safe from the reach of international terrorism.

But while terrorism is, well, terrifying, it’s worth looking at just what kind of impact it’s actually had in this country.

The threat of terrorism seems to be the entire focus of the Harper government’s new push for tougher security legislation. It might seem blunt to put it this way, but let’s consider the number of deaths due to terrorism in this country in 2014.

In that number, you can include two victims: Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, although it’s not completely clear whether either man was killed in a terror attack, or in the kind of attack now characterized by Minister Peter MacKay as being done by “murderous misfits.” But for the purpose of this editorial, we’ll say two. As scourges go, terrorism is not particularly dangerous in Canada. Not when you start doing some comparisons through recent years on just what kills Canadians.

First, drunk driving: MADD Canada estimated in 2010, there were 1,082 deaths directly to drunk drivers: all in, 2,541 died that year on our highways. Distracted driving, like cellphone use? Well, that accounted for 104 traffic fatalities in 2010 in British Columbia alone.

How about the workplace? There were 368 workplace death claims in 2013, according to totals kept by workers’ compensation boards across the country.

How about the water — not the water we drink, but the water you might swim in? Between 1991 and 2010, the Canadian Red Cross lists more than 10,000 water-related fatalities in this country. In a 10-year period, at least 42 Canadians died after falling in while trying to urinate from a boat.

Violent crime, another favourite target of our current federal government? Across the country in 2012, 172 homicides with a firearm.

And then there are the smaller numbers — like the roughly four people in Canada who drown in hot tubs every year.

Between 1986 and 2005, 53 Canadians were killed by lightning strikes, according to Environment Canada. (An average of 2.65 deaths a year. Apparently, Saturdays are the days you’re most likely to be hit by lightning, and the activity you’re most likely to be doing when you’re killed is camping and hiking.) Two deaths a year. Sounds a little familiar.

You can be afraid of terrorism. You can prepare for it.

But you also have to keep the danger in perspective.