With its Crime Severity Index, Statistics Canada offers a thorough overview of crime nationwide. Unlike traditional crime statistics, which just measure the number of episodes, this complete methodology assesses the severity as well as the incidence of crime. By factoring each crime’s severity into its calculation, the CSI provides a more complex picture of crime rates. Like the Consumer Price Index system, scores are standardized to a base value of “100,” with 2006 serving as the reference year. Less severe crimes are given less weight in this index, but more serious crimes are given higher weightage, which has a substantial impact on the overall score. This technique aids in determining Canada’s safest cities and gives a clearer picture of the severity of crime.

When newcomers to Canada are evaluating where to live, they can use the Community Safety Index (CSI) to guide their decision-making process. However, it’s important to recognize that the CSI should not be the sole factor in determining an area’s safety or suitability. For those seeking Permanent Residency, the CSI should be considered as part of a comprehensive assessment that includes various other critical factors. This broader analysis should encompass traditional crime rates, detailed community safety data, demographic trends, economic conditions, employment opportunities, income levels, and housing quality. By integrating the CSI with these additional elements, prospective residents can make a more informed choice about their new home, ensuring it meets all their needs and expectations.

Top Safest Areas in Canada Based on the Crime Severity Index

Based on data analysis spanning from 2019 to 2023, the following cities continuously received the highest ratings for all recorded crimes:

  • Quebec City, Quebec has an Overall CSI Score of 45.73.
  • Barrie, Ontario has an Overall CSI Score of 47.71.
  • Toronto, Ontario has an Overall CSI Score of 51.54.
  • Ottawa-Gatineau (All Parts) has an Overall CSI Score of 55.59.
  • Hamilton, Ontario has an Overall CSI Score of 57.74.
  • St. Catharines-Niagara, Ontario has an Overall CSI Score of 58.94.
  • Montréal, Quebec has an Overall CSI Score of 59.98.
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia has an Overall CSI Score of 66.92.
  • Kingston, Ontario has an Overall CSI Score of 70.92.
  • St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador has an Overall CSI Score of 72.92.
  • London, Ontario has an Overall CSI Score of 73.71.
  • Victoria, British Columbia has an Overall CSI Score of 75.40.
  • Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ontario has an Overall CSI Score of 75.94.
  • Brantford, Ontario has an Overall CSI Score of 77.09.
  • Calgary, Alberta has an Overall CSI Score of 79.79.
  • Vancouver, British Columbia has an Overall CSI Score of 90.74.
  • Edmonton, Alberta has an Overall CSI Score of 105.16.
  • Regina, Saskatchewan has an Overall CSI Score of 113.18.
  • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has an Overall CSI Score of 114.85.
  • Kelowna, British Columbia has an Overall CSI Score of 120.51.
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba has an Overall CSI Score of 125.82.

The data listed below pertains to provinces where CMAs were excluded from the CSI measurement:

  • Prince Edward Island has an overall CSI score of 62.59.
  • New Brunswick has an overall CSI score of 84.94.
  • Yukon has an overall CSI score of 215.87.
  • Nunavut has an overall CSI score of 390.66.
  • Northwest Territories has an overall CSI score of 427.88.

Understanding the CSI – What It Measures? 

The Crime Severity Index (CSI) monitors annual variations in Canada’s crime severity. The severity of sentences given by judges across different provinces and territories determines the weights assigned to different forms of crime based on their significance. Less serious acts are assigned lower weights, whereas more serious crimes are assigned higher weights, which has a stronger impact on the index.

The CSI is divided into two primary categories:

  • Violent Crime Severity Index: This category includes all violent offenses recorded in the Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR2). Examples of such offenses are uttering threats, criminal harassment, and forcible confinement.
  • Non-Violent Crime Severity Index: This category covers all non-violent Criminal Code violations. It includes traffic violations, drug offenses, and breaches of federal statutes.

Crimes that take place in Canada’s Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) are the main focus of the CSI. A CMA is an area that encircles a central population hub (the core) with one or more nearby municipalities. An area needs to be at least 100,000 people overall, with at least 50,000 of those people residing in the central region, in order to be designated as a CMA.