Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

TODD STONE -- The NDP’s record in helping businesses and people has been abysmal

 


As employment in B.C. declines for a second month, and with the private sector still down 61,000 jobs compared to pre-pandemic levels despite a population growth of 53,000 people, the B.C. Liberals are reiterating their call for John Horgan and the NDP to stop bumbling and put forward a strategic long-term rebuild plan.

Numbers released by Statistics Canada today show that B.C. lost another 1,900 jobs in May, on top of the 43,100 jobs lost in April. Despite the virtually unchanged unemployment rate of seven per cent, this was largely due to more people giving up their search for work, as indicated by the 10.5 per cent hidden unemployment rate. There are still 25,100 fewer British Columbians working today than in February 2020.

“The NDP needs to come up with a private sector jobs plan for long-term recovery, but instead they’ve botched programs and left sectors across the province flapping in the wind,” said Todd Stone, BC Liberal Critic for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.

“You can’t just cross your fingers and hope for the best. John Horgan’s lack of targeted support is leaving women and youth in particular to fend for themselves.”

In May, women lost 17,300 jobs and youth aged 15 to 24 lost 6,800 jobs. Young women continue to be hit the hardest with a staggering unemployment rate of 17.6 per cent. The overall youth unemployment stands at 15.1 percent.

“The NDP’s record in helping businesses and people has been abysmal, with B.C. ranked eighth in Canada for direct relief and grant programs for businesses. On a per capita basis, Ontario is spending $261 per person while B.C. is spending $110 per person,” added Stone.

Stone also highlighted that tourism-related businesses continue to suffer, with 53,000 jobs lost since February 2020, and he called on the NDP to immediately implement the remaining Tourism Task Force recommendations.

“John Horgan must act now to foster an inclusive recovery that leaves no one behind. Thousands of businesses have incurred debt and can’t march forward unless this government puts an economic rebuild plan on the table to restore confidence,” concluded Stone.

Comments

  1. garret seinenJune 6, 2021 at 9:33 AM

    Regrettably, I have yet to any honest criticism of the political insanity we have seen with respect of COVID, The economic lockdown that continues to take, to sap human effort at an unprecedent scale, that carries a generational cost far greater than the danger from the disease. Is anyone in public office brave enough to challenge what has been done?

    Silently we are lead to our slaughter. And yes, more words for deaf ears.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interfor Moves Headquarters Out of BC as Forestry Crisis Continues

NDP policies are driving businesses out of B.C., and the forestry industry just suffered yet another calamity. Interfor, a BC company founded more than 60 years ago and now one of the world's largest lumber producers, is moving its headquarters from Burnaby, BC to Atlanta, Georgia. As BC’s forestry sector faces mill closures and mounting uncertainty, this move is another warning sign that the crisis is deepening and conditions are fatal. “This is the NDP’s record: endless job losses with no hope in sight for the forestry sector,” said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. “Interfor still has three mills in BC which are now in serious jeopardy, and it is likely we will see even more companies pull out of BC. The NDP government is suffocating the forestry industry with high taxes, excessive regulations, and permitting delays, while DRIPA has made it impossible to plan for the future.” “Decisions like this are sadly not surprising given the NDP’s indifference if not hostility tow...
Post a Comment
Read more

Okanagan Farmers Face NDP-Created Water Crisis ~~ BC Conservatives

Okanagan farmers are facing a water crisis as government-imposed restrictions threaten to kill their crops and destroy one of B.C.’s most important agricultural industries. In perhaps the most water-rich province in the country, our farmers have been left high and dry by the NDP government. For nine weeks, Okanagan and Shuswap farmers have proposed solutions, only to be met with NDP foot-dragging. Now forest fires have come to these regions as they are simultaneously reckoning with a water crisis that has been made worse through years of government inaction. Vernon-area farms have lost 70 percent of their water, while Kelowna and Summerland growers face severe restrictions. This situation is unacceptable and cannot continue. Ian Paton, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said the NDP is once again forcing farmers to pay for its own failure to plan. "Farmers and ranchers must be listened to when decisions affecting their livelihoods are made, and under the NDP, they aren’t," said...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Hypocritically Admits Natural Gas Power Was Needed All Along ~~ BC Conservatives

The NDP just got caught buying back the exact kind of power plant it spent years telling British Columbians they didn't need. The NDP government announced today that BC Hydro is purchasing the Island Generation natural gas facility in Campbell River, an admission that its electrification-only energy policy was never realistic. The 275-megawatt plant was originally privately owned yet kept to a minimal backup role under the NDP, operating just 15 days a year on average. Now, with demand outpacing what the NDP's plan can support, the government is spending taxpayer funds on the very gas capacity it once treated as obsolete. "You cannot electrify everything and pretend natural gas doesn't matter," said Larry Neufeld, Shadow Minister for Energy.  "Buying back a gas plant they once wrote off is proof their own plan couldn't keep the lights on. It's a step towards more energy reality, but the government needs to go further and scrap the impending province-w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more