Crime Stats Belie Eby Government’s ‘Safer Province’ Claims
Violent crime and youth crime rose despite a 1.6% drop in the overall Crime Severity Index, according to police-reported data and provincial records.
- Nina Krieger, minister of public safety and solicitor general, recently cited Statistics Canada data claiming the Crime Severity Index is down nearly 12% since 2023. Early 2026 statistics, however, undercut the Eby government's assertion that enforcement investments help build a safer province.
- While the overall Crime Severity Index fell 1.6% year-over-year, the Violent Crime Severity Index rose 2.2% versus 2024. Even worse, the Violent Crime Severity Index surged 31.7 per cent from 2017 to 2025, revealing a persistent long-term trend.
- Vancouver and Surrey show worsening trends this year; the Vancouver Police Department reported violent crime incidents rose 6.0 per cent, while Surrey Police noted total reported "persons crimes" jumped 25.8 per cent year-over-year.
- The City of Kelowna report highlighted an "urgent need for criminal justice reform," citing federal bail reforms that prioritized release over detention, failing to adequately deter or rehabilitate chronic offenders.
- Matthew Lau, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute, observed that neither the Eby government nor authorities have anything to boast about regarding safety. Simply put, these dismal results suggest British Columbians remain less safe despite the rhetoric.
6 Articles
6 Articles
Crime stats belie Eby government’s ‘safer province’ claims - Vanderhoof Omineca Express
The Eby government claims to have a strong record on crime and safety. Nina Krieger, minister of public safety and solicitor general, recently cited new Statistics Canada data and said “B.C.’s Crime Severity Index is down for the second year in a row, nearly 12% lower than in 2023 and at its lowest level in years” due to “investments in enforcement and intervention by our government” that help “build a safer province.” Yet in reality, the govern…
The Free Press
Crime stats belie Eby government’s ‘safer province’ claims
The Eby government claims to have a strong record on crime and safety. Nina Krieger, minister of public safety and solicitor general, recently cited new Statistics Canada data and said “B.C.’s Crime Severity Index is down for the second year in a row, nearly 12% lower than in 2023 and at its lowest level in years” due to “investments in enforcement and intervention by our government” that help “build a safer province.” Yet in reality, the govern…
Crime stats belie Eby government’s ‘safer province’ claims - Kimberley Bulletin
The Eby government claims to have a strong record on crime and safety. Nina Krieger, minister of public safety and solicitor general, recently cited new Statistics Canada data and said “B.C.’s Crime Severity Index is down for the second year in a row, nearly 12% lower than in 2023 and at its lowest level in years” due to “investments in enforcement and intervention by our government” that help “build a safer province.” Yet in reality, the govern…
It is worrying to see that there is less and less will and intention to change the page, especially when changing the page means that the State finances and does not only make everyone pay.
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