Recent data from Statistics Canada reveals that life expectancy at birth has dropped to 81.3 years. While this figure remains above the global average of approximately 70 years, it marks a significant decline from a peak of 82.3 years in 2019. This downward trend is unprecedented in Canadian history, where life expectancy had consistently increased for over a century, regardless of global conflicts or health crises.

The initial decline in life expectancy has been largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in tens of thousands of excess deaths. However, the ongoing failure of life expectancy to recover suggests deeper systemic issues. Notably, Canada is grappling with a severe opioid crisis, with 7,146 overdose deaths reported in 2024, a stark increase from 3,742 in 2019. Additionally, Canada has become a leader in doctor-assisted deaths, with one in every 20 fatalities now attributed to euthanasia.

Canada's performance in various international rankings has also deteriorated. In 2020, the country ranked 18th in the Quality of Life Index, but it has since fallen to 27th place, trailing behind nations like Estonia and Croatia. The World Happiness Report, which ranked Canada as the sixth happiest country in 2013, now places it at 18th. Furthermore, the Corruption Perceptions Index has seen Canada drop from 11th in 2020 to 15th in 2024.

Child mortality rates, another critical indicator of societal health, have plateaued. Canada’s infant mortality rate stands at over four deaths per 1,000 births, comparable to countries like Cuba and Serbia, rather than its European counterparts such as Norway and France, which have rates closer to three. After years of improvement, the child mortality rate has stagnated, with Statistics Canada reporting a slight increase to 4.6 per 1,000 in 2023, resulting in approximately 30 additional infant deaths since 2015.

Homicide rates in Canada have also surged. After reaching a historic low in 2013, the homicide rate has climbed steadily, peaking at 2.27 per 100,000 people in 2022. Although it has decreased slightly to 1.91 in 2024, the country is experiencing a murder spike not seen since the 1990s. From 2015 to 2024, 7,292 Canadians were murdered, significantly higher than the expected count of around 6,200 had the rates remained at 2013 levels.

These trends highlight a concerning shift in Canada’s health and safety landscape, prompting discussions about the underlying factors contributing to these declines in life expectancy and overall quality of life.