WINNIPEG -- New data about homicides in Canada reveals gangbangers have become more violent and ruthless in their war with rivals and struggle for a share of the drug trade.

The numbers have risen sharply in the last two decades in Manitoba, where one in four murder victims last year died as a result of confirmed or suspected gang-related violence, according to a Statistics Canada report released yesterday.

"The message from police agencies across the country is gang stuff is getting more violent and they're more likely to use weapons," said Rick Linden, a criminologist at the University of Manitoba. "As people in gangs becoming more violent, people in opposing gangs become more violent to defend themselves."

Manitoba had the highest overall homicide rate (4.47) among provinces and territories, while Winnipeg (4.07) ranked first among Canada's 10 largest cities. Those rankings were revealed in a report in July.

At 26%, 14 of Manitoba's 54 murder victims in 2008 were gang members or innocent people caught in the middle of gang strife, the study found.

The one-in-four figure keeps with national trends.

Police and observers say gangsters have a higher propensity for violence given rivalries and jockeying for turf, illicit drug sales or other illegal money-makers.

The Opposition Tories blamed the NDP government for the increase, while the NDP says it's committed to reversing the trend and steering people away from gangs with a variety of measures.

Last year's gang-related total is three more than 2007, double the total recorded in 2006, and well above totals recorded in 1998 (2), 1999 (1) and 2000 (3), according to the report, which is based on police-supplied data and comes a few months after Manitoba announced plans for a new anti-gang strategy.

Manitoba had the third-highest proportion of gang-related murders behind Alberta (32%) and B.C. (29%). The national average is 22.6%.

Six gang-related murders happened in Winnipeg, which had the third-highest per capita rate and highest rate of homicides involving a firearm.

Last year, firearms were the murder weapon in 77% of gang-related slayings, the report found.

Other highlights in the report found shootings and stabbings were most common, most victims knew their killer, the number of women slain reached an all-time low, and fewer youths were accused of homicide.

The national homicide rate increased 2%.

chris.kitching@sunmedia.ca