WINNIPEG — The number of Manitobans concerned about crime and public safety has risen steadily, an opinion poll done for the Manitoba government suggests.
The Benchmark poll by Leger is commissioned by the province and conducted every few months to gauge public concerns. The latest available survey, done in October and obtained by The Canadian Press under Manitoba's freedom of information law, suggests affordability and health care remain the most popular concerns.
The survey involved an online panel of 818 Manitobans between Oct. 21 and 31. Because online panel polls do not randomly sample the population, they cannot be assigned a margin of error.
Three in four respondents cited rising costs as a concern, while 70 per cent cited wait times for health care. Both figures were in the range of the last three consecutive Leger polls, going back to February 2023.
Crime was the third-most cited worry, among 69 per cent of respondents. That number has increased in each of the last three Leger polls. It registered 55 per cent in February 2023.
A political analyst said high-profile crimes and media coverage of justice issues play a role.
"Winnipeggers are very cognizant of problems in our society of sex trafficking, murdered and missing Indigenous women, and crime in the core area and other parts of the city," Christopher Adams from the University of Manitoba said Wednesday.
Manitoba traditionally has among the highest rates of violent crime in the country, as measured by Statistics Canada. The province's crime severity index, which measures the volume and seriousness of crimes, was second to Saskatchewan in 2024, the agency reported.
Manitoba's index dropped slightly from 2023 to 2024 — the first drop since 2020.
The government has announced several anti-crime measures in the last two years, including increased policing for retail theft, new rules for machete sales, and increased use of electronic ankle monitors for some people released on bail.
Health care, a cornerstone of the NDP government's platform in the 2023 election, remained a top concern for respondents to the Leger survey. Eighty per cent said the health care system needs improvement.
In the previous three surveys, the number ranged between 74 per cent and 85 per cent.
"In the public's eyes, health has not been corrected sufficiently," Adams said.
The survey also probed people's thoughts on immigration.
Just over half the respondents said the number of immigrants coming to Manitoba is too high, while 25 per cent said the number is just about right.
Asked why they feel that way, the most popular answers were too much competition for jobs (32 per cent), the struggle to support current residents (24 per cent) and demand for housing (19 per cent).
It's not surprising that the province would start polling people on immigration, given the issue's high profile leading up to the last federal election and in recent years in the United States, Adams said.
Manitoba also shares jurisdiction with Ottawa on immigration issues, Adams said. It has sought to attract more newcomers under the provincial nominee program to address labour shortages in some sectors.
The NDP government said it wanted to take the pulse of Manitobans as Ottawa eyes changes.
"On immigration, while we recognize how vital newcomers are to our economy, the federal government has made significant shifts to immigration programs and priorities," a prepared written statement from the government's cabinet communications branch read.
"We want to ensure that Manitobans' voices are at the centre of our work, as Manitobans' priorities are ours."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
