Inaugural survey reveals that while most feel safe, many are worried about crime
Scope Research has released new findings from its January 2026 survey, revealing key distinctions in how residents of Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia view public safety. While most people report feeling safe in their communities, a significant number are worried about becoming victims of crime.
“Our data shows a bit of a contradiction,” says Meghan O’Reilly, Lead Researcher at Scope. “Most people told us they haven’t been victims of crime recently, but the majority of respondents from each province say they worry about it. There is a real sense that crime is on the rise, even if it hasn’t hit them personally yet.”
The Key Findings:
- Across all three provincial surveys, about half of respondents reported worrying about becoming a victim at least sometimes, while less than 30% say they rarely or never worry about it.
- Alberta is the only province where respondents were split on personal experience with crime. 49% of Albertans said they or someone close to them had been a victim in the past year, compared to 37% in Ontario and 35% in BC.
- Across all three provinces, most reported that they generally feel safe in their communities, but also report that they’ve taken precautions to protect themselves from crime.
Provincial Comparisons on Solutions:
The survey also looked at how people think crime should be handled. While all three provinces agree that harsher punishments would help, there is a clear divide on the role of rehabilitation:
- Ontario & BC: Respondents were divided on whether rehabilitation works better than punishment in reducing reoffending.
- Alberta: Support for rehabilitation was much lower, as just 37% agreed that rehabilitation is more effective than punishment in reducing reoffending, and 69% favouring tougher sentences as a way to reduce crime.
“Across the board, about half feel that crime in their area has increased over the last year, but they also told us they feel safe in their communities” says O’Reilly. “So there is a bit of a disconnect, and what seems like some underlying concern about the direction things are heading in.”
About the Survey
Results shown here were collected as part of Scope Research’s inaugural 2026 survey of Ontarians, Albertans, and British Columbians. Percentages shown in this release reflect question-level response bases from each of the three surveys.
Data was collected through three online surveys from January 20 to 22, 2026. 1500 responses were collected in Ontario and Alberta, and 1502 responses were collected in BC. Results were weighted by age and gender using data from the Canadian census, to ensure that the sample reflects the demographic makeup of each target province’s population.
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About Scope Research
Scope Research is a Toronto-based public opinion research firm that conducts quantitative and qualitative research for clients. With a team of seasoned strategists and experts, Scope helps clients gather, understand and utilize public opinion research to advance their organizational objectives. By combining deep expertise with a client-centric approach, Scope Research delivers tailored insights that achieve real-world results. Scope is a subsidiary of Jenni Byrne + Associates, a public affairs and government relations firm. For more information, visit scoperesearch.ca.
Media Contact:
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