Among the nine CMAs with populations of 500,000 or more, Winnipeg reported the highest homicide rate (4.12 per 100,000 population), followed by Vancouver (2.97). The lowest rates were reported for Calgary (1.41) and Hamilton (1.56).

The greatest decrease in the number of homicides from 1995 to 1996 appeared in Ottawa-Hull: the CMA reported 11 fewer homicides in 1996 bringing the rate down from 2.74 per 100,000 population in 1995 to 1.64 in 1996. Winnipeg recorded 12 more homicides in 1996 than in 1995, the greatest increase in number of homicides, increasing the rate from 2.36 to 4.12. Quebec City and Winnipeg are the only CMAs that have reported higher 1996 rates than the average rate for the previous ten years.

Historically, the rate of homicide has been higher in Montreal, Vancouver and Edmonton than in other census metropolitan areas within the CMA group size of 500,000 or more.

In 1996, among the CMAs in Canada with a population of 500,000+, Edmonton with a homicide rate of 2.25 per 100,000 population was third highest while Calgary, with a rate of 1.41, was the lowest.