Overview
- The Liaison Strategies poll, conducted Aug. 30–31, 2026, interviewed 1,500 Canadians and found 57% say Toronto is somewhat or very unsafe while the city posted a net safety score of −18.
- Winnipeg ranked worst in the survey with 59% calling it unsafe and scored −28 on net safety, while Ottawa and Quebec City topped the list as the safest cities.
- Researchers say Toronto shows the largest gap between public perception and Statistics Canada crime‑severity measures, creating what they call the country’s biggest reputational penalty.
- Only 12% of respondents said crime statistics shape their views, with news coverage, viral social media and personal stories cited far more often as drivers of opinion.
- Pollsters warn the reputation gap can have concrete effects on residents and local economies by deterring visitors, students and investors and that repairing a damaged city image can take years.