Record Job Losses Prove Campbell’s Failed Leadership
VICTORIA – Today’s jobless numbers are an indictment of the Campbell government’s failed policies, the New Democrats said today.
“Almost 80,000 full-time jobs have been lost since the beginning of the year. We have the worst record of job losses in the country. Clearly, Gordon Campbell’s economic plan has been a failure,” said New Democrat finance critic Bruce Ralston .
“For months into the economic downturn, Gordon Campbell told British Columbians not to worry. He had no idea what was going on for working families in the province. He responded slowly, and even today he stands alone among western leaders in calling for tax increases and program cuts.”
New numbers released by Statistics Canada today show that in March B.C. lost 23,000 jobs, the worst in the country. This brings to 79,600 the number of British Columbians who have lost their full-time jobs this year.
“Gordon Campbell was slow to admit that there was a problem, and his reluctance to take action cost British Columbians their jobs. His plan is weak and clearly still hasn’t had any real effect,” said Ralston.
Last month, Economic Development Minister Ida Chong claimed that the tens of thousands of jobs lost in B.C. since the beginning of the year can be viewed as a “good thing”.
Carole James will provide tax relief and targeted investments to help average families get through tough times, speed up B.C.’s economic recovery, generate jobs, and lay a solid foundation for the future.
