Winnipeg dangerously close to new homicide record

Winnipeg has recorded 42 homicides this year. With just two weeks left in 2021, the city is getting dangerously close to hitting that grim record of 44 homicides set back in 2019.

After only reporting five homicides in the first five months of 2021, Winnipeg has seen the homicide count skyrocket to 42 reporting 37 homicides between the middle of May and now.

University of Winnipeg criminal justice professor Dr. Michael Weinrath says the increase in homicides is due to several factors with increases in drug abuse and poverty leading the way.

“We talk a lot about homicide deaths but the real tragedy in Winnipeg is the high number of drug-related deaths. We had 370 drug-related deaths in 2020 and we were at 200 throughout the year so we are actually going to have more drug-related deaths this year.”

Dr. Weinrath says increases in drug abuse and poverty in Winnipeg leads to rises in homicide numbers. Marion Willis, Founder of St. Boniface Street says the drug epidemic has increased drastically during COVID-19.

“We’re seeing many more deaths, we are seeing homelessness, drug addiction, the increases in, property crimes, violent crimes against other people including homicide have increased and that is the by-product of an epidemic that we still haven’t invested enough in terms of strategies,” explained Willis.

Between January and December of 2020, 372 Manitobans died from fatal overdoses.  Up from 199 fatal overdoses In 2019, an increase of 87%. Willis says this number is sure to spike in 2021. She says if there are no solutions to the drug epidemic problem, homicide rates will only continue to rise.

“Government seems not to value the non-profit sector, which by the way was established to be the service delivery arm of government, but we’ve had our arms cut off so it’s hard for us to intervene and the province is doing nothing,” added Willis

Between 2013 and 2018, Winnipeg averaged around 25 homicides per year. But since 2019, that average has spiked to around 43.

Winnipeg police told CityNews, of the 42 homicides in 2021, 10 remain unsolved. Before also confirming the majority of homicides this year are drug and/or gang-related.

Dr. Weinrath says the city and province need to step up and bring in the necessary resources to tackle the underlying issues that lead to homicides.

“We need to try to help people who have substance abuse, not to just prevent homicides, but prevent the human misery, injuries, and death that occur. That likely mean an increase in treatment resources, particularly in rapid access places that people can get assessed and get immediate relief.”