Sask. homicide rate second highest in Canada
REGINA — Saskatchewan may have the second-highest homicide rate among the Canadian provinces, but police forces and analysts say those figures need to be taken with a grain of salt.
According to a Statistics Canada report looking at 2011 figures, released on Tuesday, there were 38 homicides in Saskatchewan in 2011, representing a rate of 3.59 per 100,000 people.
That was topped only by Manitoba, where 53 homicides gave it a rate of 4.24. Alberta was in third place, with a rate of 2.88.
When it comes to metropolitan areas, Regina’s seven homicides in 2011 put the city in fifth place. Saska- toon — with six — came in at eighth.
According to the report, Winnipeg had the highest rate of homicides per 100,000 people, with 39 last year (a rate of 5.08). Next came Halifax (4.41), Edmonton (4.17) and Thunder Bay (3.33).
“I think (these statistics) are a valuable benchmark to look at,” said Rick Ruddell, the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan’s Chair of Police Studies.
“When it comes to homicide, though, cities like Regina are so small of a city that one or two more can make it look like a huge increase. That rate is really sensitive.”
The number of homicides in Regina dropped to seven from eight in 2010 to 2011, and to six from 10 in Saskatoon.
Nationally, Canada saw 44 more homicides than 2010 — the first increase in three years.
Saskatchewan had four more homicides than 2010, but the bulk of the national increase was accounted for by Alberta, which had 32 additional homicides, and Quebec, with 21 more.
“The numbers within the total F Division jurisdiction are relatively stable within two or three cases from previous years,” said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Rob King.
“We’re always out in the communities, making sure people know who we are, and the social media thing is big for us now too. Our gang unit and youth programs are all continuing and they’re constantly being reassessed to see how we can improve them.”
According to the report, gang- related homicides were also at their peak on the Prairies, with Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta reporting the highest rate. Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton reported the highest rates when it came to cities.
While Saskatoon reported the second-highest rate, city police department spokeswoman Kelsie Fraser said there hadn’t “been any increase in gang activity per se.
“Our gang unit is very aware of what’s going on in that scene, and so they’ve done a good job of keeping that in check,” she said.
“Another thing to note, though, is that with Saskatchewan’s booming economy, we get more groups trying to infiltrate (the province) and set up shop. It’s an unfortunate result of the booming economy.”
In Regina, deputy police chief Bob Forin said the overall crime rate is too high, “but ... the rates are deceiving at times. Seven homicides in 2011 is seven too many, but I think if you talk to most people in the city, they would say Regina is a safe place.” Ruddell agreed. “This is a nice report card to get,” he said. “Things are pointing in the right direction.”