Toronto

Public Safety

Toronto is known as one of the safest major cities in North America. Its subways are clean and safe and even have special camera-monitored safety areas. Criminal law in Toronto is determined by Canada's federal government and is the same throughout the country, as opposed to civil law, which varies from one province to another. The Metro area is protected by a police force of approximately 5,000, supplemented by a unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which enforces federal laws, such as those involving drug smuggling and tax evasion. The Ontario Provincial Police patrol the highways that ring the city. Uniformed police officers wear guns although gun use by the police is extremely rare.