Government, Opposition present contrasting views on CSI

SASKATOON—The government and the Opposition presented opposing views after the province again recorded the highest crime severity index in the country based on 2024 data provided by Statistics Canada.

Saskatchewan’s CSI is at 153.9, almost twice the national average of 77.9, and nearly three times that of larger provinces like Ontario and Quebec. The CSI measures the seriousness and volume of crime based on actual sentences handed down in courts.

Saskatchewan NDP Deputy Leader Vicki Mowat, in a press conference on Wednesday, July 23, at the constituency office she shares with fellow Opposition MLAs Kim Breckner and April ChiefCalf, accused the government of abandoning its duty to protect the communities.

Mowat said the data released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday, July 22, showed that severe crime in Saskatchewan was higher than in any other province in the nation. CSI measures the level of severe crime in Canada from year to year.

“The level of seriousness is based on actual sentences handed down by courts. However, these figures only reinforce what Saskatchewan people already know and experience daily. People don't feel safe,” said Mowat.

“We remember a time when we would leave our doors unlocked and walk alone on the streets at night. That's not the reality anymore after 18 years in Sask. Party failures. The government hasn't done a thing to protect our communities, to get tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.”

She also criticized the constituencies that have Sask. Party MLAs, including Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill, in North Battleford, which saw a 37 per cent increase in crime rate since 2018, and Education Minister Everett Hinley at Swift Current, with a 16 per cent increase.

Mowat added the other cities where the crime rate increased, and Sask. Party MLAs are in position, with a staggering 108 per cent increase since 2018 in Melfort, a 25 per cent increase in Yorkton, a 20 per cent increase in Humboldt, and a seven per cent increase in Prince Albert.

She said the government has continuously missed hiring targets for police officers, appointing judges and even cut funding for mental health and addictions support that can be used to address the root cause of crimes.

The government, in a statement sent to SaskToday, however, reiterated that it is committed to keeping communities, neighbourhoods, and residents safe, and added that the total crime rate and CSI both decreased by three per cent and five per cent, respectively.

“From 2023 to 2024, Saskatchewan’s largest cities saw a significant decrease in CSI. Prince Albert by 20 per cent, Regina by 11 per cent and Saskatoon by nine per cent. Saskatchewan had the third-largest decline in CSI across Canada, at 5.13 per cent,” said the government.

“Since 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed significant investments in policing, and measures to address gangs, illegal drugs and weapons by working with all levels of government, the police and communities to reduce crime and victimization.”

The government statement said that their investments resulted in a 10-point decrease in Saskatchewan’s CSI since the NDP left government, and added that the CSI is not intended to be used in isolation and is not a universal indicator of community safety.

“We recognize the challenges Saskatchewan communities are facing. We continue to work with the RCMP and police across the province to tackle serious and violent crime. Unlike the NDP, whose only plan for public safety is to install doorbell cameras,” said the statement.

“Our government is making significant investments to protect communities and continue to take significant steps legislatively to further reduce drug-related crime by targeting illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine production, transportation, trafficking and street use.”