Toronto professor says Sask. crime reaction should look beyond cities

While the latest Crime Severity Index report from Statistics Canada has many focusing on Saskatchewan's two largest cities, which once again topped the list, a professor with the University of Toronto said we’re looking at the numbers wrong.

Regina came in at number one for overall and violent crime in major cities, Saskatoon followed in second place. North Battleford remained the most crime ridden city in the country.

Mariana Valverde said focusing on just the stats of these cities takes away from the bigger picture, which she said is more effective when trying to bring crime numbers down.

“In the long run, what’s effective is to make sure that there aren’t communities that feel really isolated and disempowered and without any prospects,” said Valverde.

Crime rates in terms of provinces and territories have the Yukon and the Northwest Territories shaded with the highest crime rate in the country.

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“If you take that along with statistics on cities I think what you see is that Canada’s aboriginal communities continue to be isolated, marginalized,” said Valvarde.

As well as a higher level of criminal activity, a lot of Canada’s aboriginal people are victims of crime much more often than non-aboriginal people, she said.

Valverde pointed out it’s a difficult conversation to start in the country without raising fears or stereotypes, but suggests the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People, which set out a 20-year agenda for implementing changes, as a good study to go from.

“The bottom line is these kinds of situations are extremely difficult and there’s no golden solution that anybody can offer,” said Valvarde.

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