New data reveals a startling trend: crime rates in some Canadian cities are now surpassing those in the United States. While Americans still face higher rates of violent crime, including shootings and murders, property crimes such as theft and carjackings are on the rise in Canada. This shift has led to Canadian cities like Kelowna, B.C., and Lethbridge, Alta., ranking worse than any urban area in the U.S. for property crime.

In 2022, Lethbridge reported an alarming 5,521 property crimes per 100,000 residents, equating to roughly one crime for every 18 people. In comparison, Pueblo, Colorado, the U.S. city with the highest property crime rate, recorded 4,911 incidents per 100,000 people. These findings come from an extensive 85-page report by the Fraser Institute, which analyzed crime data from Statistics Canada and the FBI over an 18-year period from 2004 to 2022.

Livio Di Matteo, a researcher at the Fraser Institute, noted that Canada has now taken the lead in average annual property crime rates after years of trailing behind the U.S. The report challenges the long-held perception of Canada as a "peaceable kingdom" with lower crime rates. An infographic included in the report highlights that among 86 cities surrounding the Great Lakes, Canadian cities dominate the list for the worst property crime rates. Thunder Bay and London, Ontario, were identified as the two worst offenders.

The report also indicates that the average resident of Toronto is now more likely to experience property crime than someone living in New York City. The Fraser Institute cautioned that comparing crime rates between the two countries is complex due to differing definitions of crimes. For instance, Canadian law broadly defines sexual assault, while the U.S. categorizes sex crimes into more specific types.

Additionally, Canada uses the Crime Severity Index, which measures not only the number of crimes but also their societal impact. The U.S. lacks a similar metric, making direct comparisons challenging. Despite these differences, Di Matteo argued that the raw figures of police-reported crime provide a useful indication of overall crime patterns.

Historically, Canadian cities reported lower property crime rates than their American counterparts until 2020, when the rates began to converge. By 2022, Canada experienced unprecedented crime waves, including a surge in arsons against churches and a significant increase in car thefts, leading to its designation by the BBC as the "auto theft capital of the world."

While property crime rates have surged, Canada still lags behind the U.S. in terms of violent crime. The report found that Canada’s homicide rate remains relatively stable at two per 100,000 people, while the U.S. rate has nearly tripled in recent years.

The Fraser Institute's report was published on March 18 but received little attention due to the political climate, including the swearing-in of Prime Minister Mark Carney and the start of the 45th general election campaign. Recently, the report gained traction on social media, with influencer Mario Nawfal highlighting the alarming rise in property crime in Canada’s largest cities compared to American cities known for crime.