Canada’s inexplicable anxiety over violent crime

While recent data show crime in Canada is on a downward slope, a new public opinion poll suggests Canadians believe otherwise. According to a Forum Poll done for the National Post, the recent mass shootings and media coverage have the majority of Canadians fearing “a violent crime wave.” Jake Edmiston breaks down the results.

PERCEPTION VS. STATS
The telephone survey asked 1,639 Canadians whether they thought violent crime was increasing — 54% agreed, one-third disagreed and the remainder responded that they were unsure. Females, lower-income households and Conservatives were more likely to believe in a growing crime problem.
The majority opinion conflicts with a July 24 Statistics Canada report that showed the overall crime rate and violent crime rate are on a steady decline. The violent crime rate in Canada dropped 5% last year, though homicides and sexual assault against children saw an increase.

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