Crime and Drug Use in Canada

June 15, 2023

On behalf of Postmedia, Leger surveyed Canadians about their views on crime and drug use from June 2 to 4, 2023. 

SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR SURVEY ON VIEWS ON CRIME AND DRUG USE INCLUDE…

  • 55% of Canadians want violent crime, such as murder and assault, to be the top priority for government decision makers to tackle when it comes to crime in Canada, followed by illegal firearm possession (41%) and drug and substance abuse (37%). 
  • A strong majority (72%) of Canadians believe the drug crisis in their community is serious, with 1 in 3 (31%) considering it very serious. 
  • 79% of Canadians agree there are too many repeat violent offenders being offered bail, and 78% agree the justice system is too lenient when it comes to those found guilty of committing a violent crime.  
  • 91% of Canadians agree that repeat violent criminal offenders should have their access to bail severely restricted or revoked. 
  • A significant proportion of Canadians (73%) agree with restricting bail even if it could lead to challenges on the interpretation of our Charter of Rights, and 40% strongly agree.  

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

  • A web survey was conducted among 1,525 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, via Leger’s online panel, LEO.
  • The data was collected from June 2 to 4, 2023.
  • As a non-probability online survey, a margin of error is technically not reported. If the data were collected through a probability sample, the margin of error would be ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
  • Using data from the 2021 census, the results were weighted according to age, gender and region, as well as by education and presence of children in the household in order to ensure a representative sample of the population.

Related Posts

2026 U.S. Midterms

With the U.S. midterm elections approaching on November 3, 2026, our latest survey examines Americans' voting intentions, confidence in the electoral process and views of President Donald Trump's job performance. Conducted from October 23 to 25, 2026, the survey...

Halloween 2026: Canadians Aren’t Too Old for a Little Fright

Halloween isn't something everyone truly outgrows. Our latest survey shows that while family traditions remain a big part of the holiday, younger adults are finding their own ways to celebrate. Participation also varies across the country, and not everyone considers...

BC Election 2026: Conservatives Gain Ground in Final Days

With British Columbians heading to the polls on October 24, the Conservatives enter the final days of the provincial election campaign with a five-point lead over the NDP. According to our latest BC election poll, conducted from October 20 to 22, voting intentions...

Quebec Election: A Positive Reception for the PQ

Two weeks after the October 5, 2026, provincial election, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's new minority government is receiving a generally positive reception from Quebecers. However, the results point to different expectations when it comes to the new government and...

Get the latest in your inbox

Stay up to date on cutting-edge research, news and more.