B.C. leads Canada in support for bringing back death penalty

A new Research Co. poll reveals that B. C.

residents lead Canada in support for reinstating the death penalty in murder cases. Sixty-seven percent of B. C.

respondents said they would support the return of capital punishment for murder—tied with Saskatchewan and Manitoba for the highest rate in the country. This represents a notable shift from February 2025, when the same firm last polled on the topic. Nationally, 60 percent of Canadians now support reinstating capital punishment, up six percentage points from February.

Research Co. president Mario Canseco noted a stark political divide. "While majorities of Canadians who voted for the Liberals or the New Democrats in 2025 (57 per cent and 65 per cent, respectively) would maintain life imprisonment without parole, most Conservatives (54 per cent) would bring back the death penalty," he said.

When asked to choose between two approaches for murder convictions, 49 percent of Canadians selected life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, while 39 percent chose capital punishment. Among those opposing the death penalty, two-thirds worry about wrongful conviction and execution. Another 49 percent believe murderers should serve time in prison as determined by a judge.

Some oppose it on the grounds that it would not serve as a deterrent, while others believe taking a convicted murderer's life is wrong. A small minority—18 percent—believe murderers can be rehabilitated. Canada eliminated the death penalty for murder in July 1976 and formally eliminated all provisions for capital punishment in 1998.

Calls for abolition in Canada trace back to 1867, though the most concerted parliamentary efforts began in the early twentieth century under MP Robert Bickerdike. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper openly supported capital punishment but never pursued legislative action to reinstate it.