Highlights

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• Similar to what was observed in 1999, data from the 2004 General Social Survey showed that immigrants had a lower rate of violent crime victimization (68 incidents per 1,000 population) than that of the Canadian-born population (116 incidents per 1,000 population).

• Second-generation Canadians — individuals born in Canada but with at least one parent born abroad — had a victimization rate comparable to third- or higher generation Canadians (125 incidents per 1,000 population).

• While violent victimization rates are lower for immigrants than for non-immigrants, the characteristics of the crimes against immigrants are quite similar to those of crimes committed against the Canadian-born population.

• Generally, similar proportions of both immigrants and non-immigrants feel that the police are doing a good job. However, those who had contact with the police during the 12 months preceding the survey had slightly less favourable evaluations, especially with respect to ensuring the safety of citizens and treating people fairly.

• Immigrants settle mainly in urban areas where social problems such as loitering, vandalism and the presence of drugs are more prevalent. However, immigrants were less likely than non-immigrants to feel that these situations were a problem in their particular neighbourhood.

• Nearly 1 in 5 immigrants, compared to more than 1 in 10 among the Canadian-born population, reported experiencing discrimination during the five years preceding the survey. Immigrants who had lived in Canada less than five years were more likely than immigrants who lived in Canada more than 5 years to feel that they had been discriminated against (26% compared to 18%, respectively).

• Immigrants express slightly higher levels of fear of crime than the Canadian-born population, with 11% compared to 8% of non-immigrants, believing that the crime rate was higher in their neighbourhood than elsewhere in Canada.

• In Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces, immigrants generally expressed lower levels of fear. Whereas in Ontario and British Columbia, they expressed higher levels of fear than non-immigrants. More than 60% of immigrants residing in Quebec and 65% of those residing in the Atlantic Provinces said that they felt safe when using public transportation alone after dark, compared to 52% in Ontario and 50% in British Columbia.