Although new Statistics Canada data reveals that the volume and severity of police-reported crime increased for the third consecutive year in Canada in 2023, Ontario cities' crime rates were noticeably lower than some other major metropolitan areas, including Vancouver and Calgary. 

The agency's annual Crime Severity Index (CSI) observes both the number and relative severity of crimes, and was developed to complement the conventional crime rate and self-reported victimization data. 

According to the data, Canada's crime index in 2023 was 80.5, up two per cent from 2022.

The statistical agency says that large shifts in certain types of crime led to an increase in the non-violent CSI — which includes property and drug offences — in 2023. One significant contributor in this category was largely due to a higher rate of police-reported child pornography (+52 per cent).

According to the index, Toronto's CSI was 58.5 in 2023, representing a crime rate of 4,160 per 100,000 people and an 11 per cent change when compared to 2022. 

Despite this increase, Toronto's CSI was lower than other cities throughout the province, including Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo (75.6), London (64.3), Kingston (72.2), and Peterborough (60.2). 

No Ontario cities cracked the top ten list of Canadian cities by CSI for 2023.

However, Statistics Canada notes that the CSI is not intended to be used in isolation or as a universal indicator of an area's overall safety.

Its data is best understood "in a broad context with other information on community safety and crime," as well as other characteristics, including population and demographics, labour market conditions, employment, income, and housing. 

"The CSI was developed to address the limitation of the police-reported crime rate being driven by high-volume, but relatively less serious, crimes," the agency notes. 

"The CSI considers not only the volume of crime, but also the relative severity of crime. Therefore, the CSI will vary when changes in either the volume or the average severity —or both the volume and the average severity— of crime are recorded." 

As an area-based index, the CSI also does not account for the specific demographics of an area, or how different groups of people may experience crime, harm, and discrimination. 

"For example, First Nations people, Métis and Inuit are historically overrepresented among victims of homicide, among self-reported victims of violence, and in the criminal justice system," the agency writes. 

Here are the 10 cities that top the list of Canada's CSI in 2023: 

1. Kamloops, B.C. (CSI: 165.3) 
2. Chilliwack, B.C. (CSI: 156.2) 
3. Red Deer, AB (CSI: 146.9) 
4. Winnipeg, MB (CSI: 129.1) 
5. Lethbridge, AB (CSI: 129.1)
6. Nanaimo, B.C. (CSI: 125.5) 
7. Kelowna, B.C. (CSI: 118.6)
8. Saskatoon, SK (CSI: 116.3) 
9. Regina, SK (CSI: 111.6)
10. Abbotsford-Mission, B.C. (CSI: 107.6)