Annual Crime Data Release Will Be Significantly Different in 2024

July 25, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A series of changes are planned by Statistics Canada in response to issues identified by a number of communities earlier this year with respect to the annual Crime Severity Index. The changes will be part of the annual data release by Statistics Canada.

Since the 11 Western Canadian communities participated in a conference in Saskatoon on February 29, 2024, the group has worked directly with Statistics Canada and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police to further outline the impacts on communities which are consistently identified as the top-ranked communities by Crime Severity Index weights. Statistics Canada has confirmed to the City of Portage la Prairie that several changes have been implemented by the organization to mitigate the concerns outlined by the communities and Indigenous leadership which were present at the conference.

“We are very encouraged that Statistics Canada took the concerns our municipalities brought forward at our conference in Saskatoon very seriously, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of those discussions,” commented Mayor Sharilyn Knox. “I would also like to recognize Councillor Doyle, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, for his work on the subcommittee collaborating with other municipalities on this critical issue.”

The annual data release from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, which includes Crime Severity Index data, is slated for July 25, 2024.