Over the last few weeks, horrific crimes have dominated headlines across the country.

There was a father of four who was killed after at least three suspects broke into his home in Vaughan, Ontario. There was a mass stabbing attack on Hollow Water First Nation, just north of Winnipeg. The suspect had been out on bail. Last weekend in Edmonton, a woman was found shot to death in her car. The suspect in that case has a long history of run-ins with the law, including convictions for violent crimes, and was on probation at the time.

Politicians from every level of government have been talking about this, saying that we are at crisis levels.

So today, we’re trying to figure out what’s real here: is crime going up? For that, Irvin Waller, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Ottawa and the author of Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime joins the show. Then, Scott Reid, the co-founder of Feschuk.Reid communications and a political commentator, talks through the politics.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts