The quiet confidence many Canadians once held about personal safety is eroding across communities nationwide. A recent poll commissioned by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) reveals a troubling shift in public sentiment: the majority of Canadians now believe their country has become more dangerous compared to just five years ago.
Walking through the Byward Market in Ottawa last week, I spoke with Elaine Thompson, a 62-year-old retired teacher who’s lived in the capital for over three decades. “I used to walk home alone after evening classes without a second thought,” she told me, glancing at her phone where she now tracks her daughter’s location when she’s out at night. “That sense of security is gone now.”
Thompson isn’t alone in this perception. According to the CSIS poll, conducted earlier this year, nearly 60 percent of respondents reported feeling their communities have become less safe, with concerns spanning beyond urban centers into smaller towns and rural areas previously thought immune to rising crime concerns.
The findings land amid a complex political landscape where public safety has emerged as a wedge issue between the governing Liberals and opposition Conservatives. Justice Minister Arif Virani has repeatedly emphasized that Canada remains “one of the safest countries in the world,” citing comparative international statistics. Yet the gap between official crime statistics and public perception continues to widen.
“Perception becomes reality when it shapes how people live their lives,” explains Dr. Irvin Waller, criminology professor at the University of Ottawa. “When people modify their behaviour because they feel unsafe – avoiding certain areas, installing security systems, limiting activities – it fundamentally changes community dynamics regardless of what the statistical trends show.”
The poll highlights several factors driving these perceptions. Concerns about gun violence, random attacks in public spaces, and property crime top the list. Particularly notable is the surge in anxiety around the safety of public transit systems in major urban centers like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
For Michael Chen, who commutes daily on Toronto’s subway system, the concern is palpable. “Two years ago, I’d work late without thinking twice about the ride home. Now I’m constantly scanning the car, sitting near the emergency alarm. My partner texts me when I should be arriving. That’s new for us.”
StatsCan data shows violent crime severity has indeed increased by approximately 18 percent since 2015. However, the overall crime rate remains significantly lower than historical peaks from decades past – creating a statistical paradox that has politicians and public safety experts scrambling to address both the reality and perception of crime.
Conservative public safety critic Raquel Dancho has seized on the findings, arguing that “Canadians know what they’re experiencing in their daily lives, and no amount of government spin can convince them otherwise.” The Conservatives have consistently framed rising crime concerns as evidence of failed Liberal policies on justice, border security, and addiction.
Meanwhile, community organizations across the country report increasing demand for safety-oriented services. The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre in Vancouver has extended its safe walk program hours in response to community requests. Director Melissa Newhook notes, “We’ve seen a 40 percent increase in women using our buddy system for basic errands they previously did alone.”
The CSIS poll also revealed significant regional variations. Atlantic Canadians reported the lowest levels of safety concern, while residents of British Columbia and Alberta expressed the highest anxiety about community safety. The prairie provinces showed the most dramatic five-year change in perception, with Manitoba residents reporting the steepest decline in feelings of security.
What’s particularly striking is how these concerns cross demographic lines. While urban-rural divides exist, the general trend toward feeling less safe spans age groups, income levels, and political affiliations. Young women between 18-34 report some of the most significant changes in behavior to accommodate safety concerns.
“I used to run at night with headphones in,” says Jasmine Rodriguez, a 26-year-old Vancouver resident. “Now I only run during daylight, without music, and I share my location with friends. It feels like a freedom I’ve lost.”
Public policy experts suggest the findings should prompt a more nuanced approach to community safety. “This isn’t just about more police or tougher sentences,” argues Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, professor of sociology at the University of Toronto. “When this many Canadians feel unsafe, we need to address both the root causes of crime and the factors affecting perception – from media coverage to social media amplification of incidents.”
The federal government has responded with increased funding for the Building Safer Communities Fund, allocating an additional $250 million over five years. However, critics argue these measures fail to address the immediate concerns many Canadians have about their daily safety.
For communities already grappling with this changed reality, the conversation has moved beyond statistics to practical adaptations. Neighborhood watch programs report surging membership, personal safety device sales have increased 35 percent year-over-year according to industry reports, and private security companies describe unprecedented demand from residential clients.
As Canada approaches another federal election cycle, the CSIS findings suggest public safety concerns will likely play a significant role in campaign messaging. The challenge for political leaders across the spectrum will be addressing both statistical realities and deeply held perceptions that have already altered how many Canadians move through their communities.
Back in Ottawa’s Byward Market, Elaine Thompson offers a perspective that transcends partisan debates: “I don’t much care which party addresses this, but someone needs to. Feeling safe in your own community shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be something we can take for granted again.”
