Table 5 
Police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2022 and 2023 

In 2019, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey added a new violation code to collect information on "sexual offences which occurred prior to January 4, 1983." While most violations are not typically reported years after their occurrence, there are a variety of reasons why sexual violations may be reported by a victim long after the incident took place. On January 4, 1983, Canadian legislation surrounding sexual offences changed considerably. To reflect these changes, the survey added the new violation code rather than collecting historical offences under an existing violation code that did not reflect the state of Canadian legislation at the time of the offence. Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 is not shown.

Changes to the Criminal Code, including the introduction of new offences related to trafficking in persons were made in 2005, 2010, 2012 and 2014. Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 is not shown. Additionally, data specific to human trafficking violations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act are not available before 2011. Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 should be interpreted with caution since there could be delays in reporting new violations. Trafficking in persons incidents reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey may be undercounted because of differences in police reporting practices for this violation.

Non-consensual distribution of intimate images is an offence created in 2015 by the former Bill C-13 "Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act." Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 is not shown.

In December 2014, new legislation came into effect governing prostitution-related activities. The new legislation targets "the exploitation that is inherent in prostitution and the risks of violence posed to those who engage in it" (Criminal Code Chapter 25, preamble). New violations classified as "offences in relation to sexual services" under "violent crime" include the purchasing of sexual services or communicating for that purpose, receiving a material benefit deriving from the purchase of sexual services, procuring of persons for the purpose of prostitution, and advertising sexual services offered for sale. In addition, a number of other offences related to prostitution continue to be considered non-violent offences and are classified under "other Criminal Code violations". These include communicating to provide sexual services for consideration and stopping or impeding traffic for the purpose of offering, providing or obtaining sexual services for consideration. Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 is not shown.

In 2022, new violation codes were added to the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. The "other violent Criminal Code violations" category now includes the following violations: 1633 'Causing or Providing Conversion Therapy', 1634 'Material Benefit from Conversion Therapy', 1635 'Intimidation of a person to impede them from obtaining health services', 1636 'Intimidation of a health professional to impede their duties', 1637 'Intimidation of a person assisting  in the performance of the health services to impede in those functions', 1638 'Obstruction or interference with access to health services', 1639 'Failure to Provide Necessaries', 1640 'Impeding Attempt to Save Life' and 1641 'Trafficking in Human Organs', which are not presented in detail for confidentiality reasons. Additionally, the "other Criminal Code violations" category now includes the following two violation categories: the category "Total violations related to Animal Cruelty" was created and includes the following UCR violations: 3812 'Injuring or endangering Animals', 3813 'Killing or injuring Law Enforcement or Military Animals', 3814 'Causing unnecessary suffering to Animals', 3815 'Causing damage or injury due to a failure to exercise reasonable care - animals or birds', and 3816 'Arena for animal fighting' which are not presented in detail for confidentiality reasons. Additionally, the "Total other violations" category includes: 3570 'Promoting or Advertising Conversion Therapy', 3700 'Unauthorized Recording of a Movie/Purpose of Sale, Rental, Commercial Distribution', and 3771 'Failure to comply with the regulations/obligations for medical assistance in dying', which are not presented in detail for confidentiality reasons.

Includes trafficking and the intent to traffic stolen goods. In 2011, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey updated the offences included in this violation. Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 should be interpreted with caution since there could be delays in reporting new violations.

Data are based on police-reported incidents that are recorded in police services' records management systems. Public safety initiatives, increased public awareness, and changes in policies and technologies available to social media companies have contributed to increases in reports of child pornography incidents to police. As public awareness continues to increase, police services are recording increases in recent and historical incidents which may also impact annual reporting of these criminal violations. Additionally, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC) serves as the primary point of contact in Canada for investigations related to sexual exploitation of children on the Internet. The NCECC and specialized provincial Internet child exploitation policing units also work in partnership with local police services and jurisdictions. Within this partnership, cases may be forwarded to local police services for processing and investigation. As a result of this exchange, there may be delays in reporting current or historical incidents of child pornography. This means that the year in which incidents are reported may not correspond to the year in which they occurred. Due to the complexity of child pornography investigations, the majority of which involve a cybercrime component, the data likely reflect the number of active or closed investigations for the year rather than the total number of incidents reported to police.

Includes seven terrorism violations which were introduced mid-year in 2013 as a result of the enactment of former Bill S-7 "An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Security of Information Act." An additional terrorism violation code was introduced in late 2015 as a result of the enactment of former Bill C-51 "Anti-terrorism Act." Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 is not shown. Because of the length of time for investigations to confirm whether the incident is founded, annual counts of terrorism offences are subject to revisions downwards when revised data are released one year after the initial release; therefore, changes between the current year of data and the previous year should be interpreted with caution.

Reflects new impaired driving offences as per former Bill C-46 "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts," which came into effect part way through 2018. Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 is not shown.

Marked declines observed in drug offences, particularly drug possession, may be due to changes in police charging practices in response to: 1) August 2020 guidelines issued by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada directing prosecutors to avoid prosecutions for simple possession offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), and 2) Health Canada's exemption from the CDSA for the province of British Columbia for the personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs, that came into effect on January 31, 2023. Additionally, changes in the rate of offences related to importation or exportation of Cannabis and other illicit drugs and controlled substances may be due in part to operational conditions and reporting of seizure cases, conducted by the Canada Border Services Agency and the Canada Post Mail Centre. These cases are forwarded for processing and investigation, and as a result of this exchange, the year in which occurrences are reported by police may not always correspond to the year in which they occurred. Therefore, year-over-year changes in these offences should be considered with caution.

The Quarantine Act is applicable to persons arriving in or departing from Canada. It provides measures for the screening, health assessment and medical examination of travellers to determine whether they have a communicable disease and to prevent the introduction and spread of such disease. The Quarantine Act requires any persons entering Canada—whether by air, sea or land—to quarantine (self-isolate) themselves for 14 days if they are asymptomatic to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19. The 14-day period begins on the day the person enters Canada. After the Government of Canada's March 2020 announcement of restrictions on persons arriving in or departing from Canada, pursuant to its powers under the Quarantine Act, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey was adjusted to add a specific Quarantine Act violation code. Therefore, the percentage change from 2013 to 2023 is not shown.

The marked decrease observed in the 2023 counts for "other federal statutes" offences is due in part to a decrease in violations under the "Customs Act" as a result of the closure of the Roxham Road unofficial border crossing point from New York State to Quebec.