New StatsCan unemployment figures

[Montgomery Burns]

For the 2nd month in a row, Canada's unemployment rate has risen:

OTTAWA (CP) - An increased number of people looking for work last month pushed the jobless rate up to 6.6 per cent, from 6.5 per cent the month before, Statistics Canada said Friday.

But it is worse:

...The economy actually shed about 16,000 private-sector jobs while about 42,000 positions were added in the public sector.

Greedy Socialism. Bad News.

Other Statscan numbers:

-In January, Alberta's unemployment rate fell by 0.7 percentage points to 3.5%, the lowest in almost 25 years.

-Despite an oil boom, uranium boom, and a potash boom, jobs in my province Saskatchewan--which is filthy rich in all 3 resources--fell from a year ago.

Thanks NDP! :angry:

Don't want to get the economy rolling if it might enviromentally hurt a moose.

Good ole Lorne Calvert announced Friday that lowering the highest business taxes in Canada will not make Saskatchewan more competitive. The way for Saskatchewan businesses to be more competive is to pay their employees more money! No suggestion from Calvert where this money is supposed to come from, but if you give him your vote, I'm sure the Magic Govt Money Tree™ will grease your palms.

It amazes me that the Canadian press calls Harper scary. It is the NDP that is scary.

A couple of years ago I saw a profile piece--in the local Star Phoenix--of the top 47 University of Saskatchewan graduates; the cream of the crop. Very talented and hardworking. Very likely to be successful in life and make a bare minimum (after some experience) of $100,000 plus per year. Going to pay lots of tax dollars.

All 47 "blue chippers" had jobs waiting for them....and 42 of them had jobs waiting in Alberta.

We educate them and the Alberta govt gets the benefit of their annual tens of thousands of tax dollars.

Tis life in Calvert's Cuba.

[Shakeyhands]

The economy actually shed about 16,000 private-sector jobs while about 42,000 positions were added in the public sector.[/b]

Greedy Socialism. Bad News.

I'll admit I am slower this morning than usual, I just don't get what your point is here. Please to explain. Thanks

[uOttawaMan]

He's taking the figure of private sector jobs cut, and juxtaposing it beside the new public sector jobs, and then drawing a correlation between the two by saying the NDP gov't is losing private jobs and replacing them with public jobs because they don't lower buisness taxes.

[Conservative1]

It amazes me that the Canadian press calls Harper scary. It is the NDP that is scary.

Absolutely...there seems to be this idea in Canada that far left thinking is a godsend, while far right thinking is the devil incarnate, political ideology taken too far right OR LEFT is inherantly not a good thing. Ever hear of the saying "everything in moderation", well it definitely applies to politics, and lets just say the NDP aren't too moderate! I live in the Windsor area where two NDP MP's were elected federally...boggles my mind how people holding such far left wing ideologies get voted in. The only answer i can honestly come up with is that the people are not informed as to the ramifications of such a parties ideology, or what would happen if god forbid they formed government (as in Manitoba...has to suck, I feel for ya!)

One possibly good thing I've heard about from Manitoba recently is the socialized auto insurance..... I would be interested to hear some different perspectives and opinions.

[tml12]

It amazes me that the Canadian press calls Harper scary. It is the NDP that is scary.

Absolutely...there seems to be this idea in Canada that far left thinking is a godsend, while far right thinking is the devil incarnate, political ideology taken too far right OR LEFT is inherantly not a good thing. Ever hear of the saying "everything in moderation", well it definitely applies to politics, and lets just say the NDP aren't too moderate! I live in the Windsor area where two NDP MP's were elected federally...boggles my mind how people holding such far left wing ideologies get voted in. The only answer i can honestly come up with is that the people are not informed as to the ramifications of such a parties ideology, or what would happen if god forbid they formed government (as in Manitoba...has to suck, I feel for ya!)

One possibly good thing I've heard about from Manitoba recently is the socialized auto insurance..... I would be interested to hear some different perspectives and opinions.

Socialized auto insurance?

My suggestion is you buy a book by Adam Smith for your left-wing friends next holiday...

[Conservative1]

Socialized auto insurance?

My suggestion is you buy a book by Adam Smith for your left-wing friends next holiday...

Hey I'm not saying i don't have issues with it, ie. no competion, and government monopoly, are the first issues to come to mind...values NOT in line with my thinking! What I am interested in is, what IS working there! Clearly something is wrong in Ontario with auto insurance, I'm just looking for interesting idea's on how to fix it, I don't care where the ideas come from. Plus sometimes it's simply interesting to hear how things are done in other parts of the country....so in conclusion go stick it and your accusations where the sun doesn't shine pal...

[Spike22]

A sign of the times. The domestic auto industry, a good benchmark of the economy is in the toilet. The associated manufacturing jobs supporting the big three are also way down. This downturn always seems to affect the rest of the economy...the normal ebb and flow of the economy I suppose.

[Riverwind]

What I am interested in is, what IS working there! Clearly something is wrong in Ontario with auto insurance, I'm just looking for interesting idea's on how to fix it, I don't care where the ideas come from.

BC has crown corporation that has a monopoly on basic auto insurance coverage. It is run as it was a for profit company but it rates are regulated by the government. Most people in BC think the system works reasonably well especially have hearing all of the horror stories coming from other provinces with a private insurance model.

A few points that I like about the system:

1) Completely transparent driver ranking system. Unlike most private insurance corporations, ICBC publishes the formulas it uses to determine your rates. This makes it easy for you to decide if you would rather deal with an accident under the table or if you want to make a claim. Furthermore, ICBC does not care if you had an accident - all they care about if you cost them money by making a claim. So you don't have to live in fear that your rates will skyrocket because your insurance company found out about that little fender bender.

2) ICBC invests in driver safety programs that reduce accidents. Since ICBC is has a monopoly in the province it will benefit if there are fewer claims. This means it makes financial sense to invest in programs to reduce speeding, drinking and driving or other bad driving practices. This type of thing would have to paid for by the gov't in provinces with private auto insurance.

The system has flaws (what system doesn't). But it is much better than any purely private auto insurance system.

[Conservative1]

1) Completely transparent driver ranking system. Unlike most private insurance corporations, ICBC publishes the formulas it uses to determine your rates. This makes it easy for you to decide if you would rather deal with an accident under the table or if you want to make a claim. Furthermore, ICBC does not care if you had an accident - all they care about if you cost them money by making a claim. So you don't have to live in fear that your rates will skyrocket because your insurance company found out about that little fender bender.

That is the kind of information i was interested in...seems like good policy public or socialized, thanks for the info!

[cybercoma]

Not a bad idea to force a transparent and standardized ranking system on all insurance companies across Canada.

[Riverwind]

Not a bad idea to force a transparent and standardized ranking system on all insurance companies across Canada.

Here is a link to the scale: http://www.icbc.com/insurance/pdf/APG26web.pdf

I think it would work as a standardized model in a private insurance system as well since higher risk drivers do pay more (BTW ICBC makes a profit). Insurance companies would complain because they would lose the ability to arbitrarily manipulate premiums. Consumers win because they get predictability without shielding irresponsible drivers from higher rates.

[Vancouver King]

For the 2nd month in a row, Canada's unemployment rate has risen:

OTTAWA (CP) - An increased number of people looking for work last month pushed the jobless rate up to 6.6 per cent, from 6.5 per cent the month before, Statistics Canada said Friday.

But it is worse:

...The economy actually shed about 16,000 private-sector jobs while about 42,000 positions were added in the public sector.

Reread the article you linked:

Quote:

"Public administration rose by 15,000 in January, with gains at the federal and municipal level. Temporary hiring for the recent election contributed to added employment in the industry.

The downward trend in the number of factory jobs continued in January with a a decline of 42,000, mostly in Ontario."

I'm certain you will agree that 15,000 one-day election jobs in January is a far cry from 42,000 added public sector positions.

This 42M figure is the real story of the report, another huge monthly loss of decent paying manufacturing jobs - times are getting tougher for Ontario.

[Wilber]

Not a bad idea to force a transparent and standardized ranking system on all insurance companies across Canada.

Here is a link to the scale: http://www.icbc.com/insurance/pdf/APG26web.pdf

I think it would work as a standardized model in a private insurance system as well since higher risk drivers do pay more (BTW ICBC makes a profit). Insurance companies would complain because they would lose the ability to arbitrarily manipulate premiums. Consumers win because they get predictability without shielding irresponsible drivers from higher rates.

While I think ICBC does a pretty good job in general, my main problem with them is that the Government has turned them from an insurance company to the god of all things automotive. They have jurisdiction over licensing, testing, you name it. There are conflicts of interest here and in the fact that by arbitrarily assigning a certain amount of blame to both drivers, they can jack up both their rates. I've never had an accident claim with them so I can't speak personally but I do know people who have been upset that they have had to hire a lawyer to fight their own insurance company. I just buy the basic insurance from them for that reason. If I do have a claim, the private insurer I use for the optional insurance just might stick up for me. Wishful thinking maybe, but they could have an incentive ICBC does not.

All things considered, ICBC has done some good things and provided a stabilizing influence on insurance rates in BC. The province is better off with them than without, IMO.

Wasn't there a US Senator or Congressman who once said, "the size of the civil service shall not exceed the population of the country" or words to that effect? Wise man (or woman).

[geoffrey]

Reread the article you linked:

Quote:

"Public administration rose by 15,000 in January, with gains at the federal and municipal level. Temporary hiring for the recent election contributed to added employment in the industry.

The downward trend in the number of factory jobs continued in January with a a decline of 42,000, mostly in Ontario."

I'm certain you will agree that 15,000 one-day election jobs in January is a far cry from 42,000 added public sector positions.

This 42M figure is the real story of the report, another huge monthly loss of decent paying manufacturing jobs - times are getting tougher for Ontario.

Yup, keep the socialism coming, one day you'll see that infinite social spending destroys the economy. We've already reach the point where we keep sliding down this slippery slope.

I'm also extremely concerned with the Alberta numbers. Numbers below natural unemployment are sometimes as dangerous as above, and I fear a reccession may occur if the welfare suckers in other places aren't forced to move out here to fill our jobs (not forced... cut off so they have to ).

[mcqueen625]

It amazes me that the Canadian press calls Harper scary. It is the NDP that is scary.

Absolutely...there seems to be this idea in Canada that far left thinking is a godsend, while far right thinking is the devil incarnate, political ideology taken too far right OR LEFT is inherantly not a good thing. Ever hear of the saying "everything in moderation", well it definitely applies to politics, and lets just say the NDP aren't too moderate! I live in the Windsor area where two NDP MP's were elected federally...boggles my mind how people holding such far left wing ideologies get voted in. The only answer i can honestly come up with is that the people are not informed as to the ramifications of such a parties ideology, or what would happen if god forbid they formed government (as in Manitoba...has to suck, I feel for ya!)

One possibly good thing I've heard about from Manitoba recently is the socialized auto insurance..... I would be interested to hear some different perspectives and opinions.

Thank you Liberals and Conservatives for Free Trade, it has allowed the corporate sector to outsource jobs to third world countries and send the finished products back to Canada for sale in our retail outlets. Thnak God the NDP did not form the government because in all likelihood our taxes would be even higher than they already are to pay for all of the social programs the NDP want to start.

I have no problem paying for a "Social Safety Net" per se, but I do not include in that safety net such things as universal daycare. If families want to have children, one or the other of the parents should be home to look after that child for the first few years of it's life, instead of farming it out to strangers to bring up their children. No wonder kids today have no sense of morals or values, they had no parent's instilling them, they were too busy having a career.

[Vancouver King]

Reread the article you linked:

Quote:

"Public administration rose by 15,000 in January, with gains at the federal and municipal level. Temporary hiring for the recent election contributed to added employment in the industry.

The downward trend in the number of factory jobs continued in January with a a decline of 42,000, mostly in Ontario."

I'm certain you will agree that 15,000 one-day election jobs in January is a far cry from 42,000 added public sector positions.

This 42M figure is the real story of the report, another huge monthly loss of decent paying manufacturing jobs - times are getting tougher for Ontario.

Yup, keep the socialism coming, one day you'll see that infinite social spending destroys the economy. We've already reach the point where we keep sliding down this slippery slope.

I'm also extremely concerned with the Alberta numbers. Numbers below natural unemployment are sometimes as dangerous as above, and I fear a reccession may occur if the welfare suckers in other places aren't forced to move out here to fill our jobs (not forced... cut off so they have to ).

You are truly a piece of work. Which part of my post got you into attack dog mode? Maybe it was posting the actual, true figures from the Statscan report - is that what tripped you off? Is the truth now a leftist plot?

Yes, Elections Canada did have the temerity to hire thousands of poll clerks for one days employment on Jan.23rd. What is your alternative to hiring these people? Abolish elections?

I stand by my point that 42,000 lost manufacturing jobs is more significant to the country than hiring 15,000 short term election workers. It's not socialism, it's simple common sense.

[geoffrey]

Reread the article you linked:

Quote:

"Public administration rose by 15,000 in January, with gains at the federal and municipal level. Temporary hiring for the recent election contributed to added employment in the industry.

The downward trend in the number of factory jobs continued in January with a a decline of 42,000, mostly in Ontario."

I'm certain you will agree that 15,000 one-day election jobs in January is a far cry from 42,000 added public sector positions.

This 42M figure is the real story of the report, another huge monthly loss of decent paying manufacturing jobs - times are getting tougher for Ontario.

Yup, keep the socialism coming, one day you'll see that infinite social spending destroys the economy. We've already reach the point where we keep sliding down this slippery slope.

I'm also extremely concerned with the Alberta numbers. Numbers below natural unemployment are sometimes as dangerous as above, and I fear a reccession may occur if the welfare suckers in other places aren't forced to move out here to fill our jobs (not forced... cut off so they have to ).

You are truly a piece of work. Which part of my post got you into attack dog mode? Maybe it was posting the actual, true figures from the Statscan report - is that what tripped you off? Is the truth now a leftist plot?

Yes, Elections Canada did have the temerity to hire thousands of poll clerks for one days employment on Jan.23rd. What is your alternative to hiring these people? Abolish elections?

I stand by my point that 42,000 lost manufacturing jobs is more significant to the country than hiring 15,000 short term election workers. It's not socialism, it's simple common sense.

Oh my. Oh my. Thats not what I was talking about at all.

It's socialism thats torching those manufacturing jobs, not hiring election workers. I could care less about the election workers.

Manufacturing is an interesting area. It should never decline in a rapidly growing economy. These numbers just show that its cheaper to do business elsewhere, and we need to correct this problem through major tax relief ASAP.

[Conservative1]

Thank you Liberals and Conservatives for Free Trade, it has allowed the corporate sector to outsource jobs to third world countries and send the finished products back to Canada for sale in our retail outlets. Thnak God the NDP did not form the government because in all likelihood our taxes would be even higher than they already are to pay for all of the social programs the NDP want to start.

Thank the Conservatives foremost and the liberals to a lesser extent for free trade....and you SHOULD be thanking them! Following the implementation of free trade Canada experienced one of the longest sustained periods of economic growth and expansion in history. Unfortunately free trade doesn't benifit everyone in every industry instead it forces allocation of recsources (ie. capital, and labour) to areas of the economy where these resourses can best be used. The overall effect of which is that resources are put to better use than they previously would have been put, making Canada more competitive/productive. The ultimate result of this increased productivity would be generally increased living standards...yes possibly even for you!

Go ahead and pick up any modern economics textbook on the subject!

And yes if the NDP did form government taxes would be higher and we would be paying for welfare state services that most don't need, services that in the long run end up hurting those which they are trying to help. Services me and dare I say it the majority of canadians don't want and definitely don't need! It's your kind of socalist thinking that I am logically and morally opposed to, it's your kind of thinking that has the potential to turn this country into a disgusting socailist welfare state! In short these views are why I can't stand the NDP!

[geoffrey]

Thank you Liberals and Conservatives for Free Trade, it has allowed the corporate sector to outsource jobs to third world countries and send the finished products back to Canada for sale in our retail outlets. Thnak God the NDP did not form the government because in all likelihood our taxes would be even higher than they already are to pay for all of the social programs the NDP want to start.

Thank the Conservatives foremost and the liberals to a lesser extent for free trade....and you SHOULD be thanking them! Following the implementation of free trade Canada experienced one of the longest sustained periods of economic growth and expansion in history. Unfortunately free trade doesn't benifit everyone in every industry instead it forces allocation of recsources (ie. capital, and labour) to areas of the economy where these resourses can best be used. The overall effect of which is that resources are put to better use than they previously would have been put, making Canada more competitive/productive. The ultimate result of this increased productivity would be generally increased living standards...yes possibly even for you!

Go ahead and pick up any modern economics textbook on the subject!

And yes if the NDP did form government taxes would be higher and we would be paying for welfare state services that most don't need, services that in the long run end up hurting those which they are trying to help. Services me and dare I say it the majority of canadians don't want and definitely don't need! It's your kind of socalist thinking that I am logically and morally opposed to, it's your kind of thinking that has the potential to turn this country into a disgusting socailist welfare state! In short these views are why I can't stand the NDP!

Free trade doesn't always work out so nicely in the real world. Depends alot on who you pick as your partners. I think we benifet nicely from NAFTA, the US definitely hurts from it.

[August1991]

The data you people are arguing about seems to come from this Statistics Canada report:

Employment increased by 26,000 in January following a pause the month before. Although employment increased, the unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 6.6% as more people entered the labour force in search of work.

Compared to 12 months ago, employment is up 1.7% (+269,000), slightly less than the rate of employment growth in the United States over the same period (+2.0%).

The significant fact here is that (slightly) more people joined the labour force.

I would not draw any major conclusions from this. In general, job creation is a poor way to measure economic benefits.

----

As to the BC insurance debate, there is good reason to argue in favour of State insurance schemes when participation is near universal - as it is with health and car insurance. State bureaucracies on the other hand tend to become, IMV, increasingly inefficient over time. The BC car insurance bureaucracy is about 30-35 years old, I think. It might be getting close to its best-before date.

In Quebec, Hydro-Quebec and the SAQ (liquor store) are becoming moribund and profligate. Jobs become sinecures and bureaucrats spend hours in meetings arguing about arcane rules and regulations.

The organization is taken over by lifers; the mandarins get pushed to the corner offices and the talent leaves.

[Conservative1]

Free trade doesn't always work out so nicely in the real world. Depends alot on who you pick as your partners. I think we benifet nicely from NAFTA, the US definitely hurts from it.

That sustained period of growth I mentioned wasn't ecxcluding the US, they too experienced similar results overall (despite current account dificits) .

Like I said though it doesn't benifit everyone in every sector, (the people it doesn't benifit are supposed to shift sectors...easier said than done i realize) and the system isn't without it's flaws...especially in the short run!

But overall in the long run it keeps economies more competitive, productivity up and living standards on the up.

[uOttawaMan]

Economies can't grow forever.

[Conservative1]

Economies can't grow forever.

Says who? They have been for the last 150yrs. on average in a measurable sense anyways.....and even before that in pre-hitoric times economists speculate that the economy was growing.....

The advent of the industrial revolution and the rise of technology has served to expediate the process in recent years...but tech. isn't going to stop improving, it's only go to get better, along with this growth in technology our economy will grow. Having progressive trade, and pro business policies will further expediate the process...

[geoffrey]

Economies can't grow forever.

Sure they can, as long as there is a sustainable rate of inflation and an increased money supply.

[Montgomery Burns]

The economy actually shed about 16,000 private-sector jobs while about 42,000 positions were added in the public sector.[/b]

Greedy Socialism. Bad News.

I'll admit I am slower this morning than usual, I just don't get what your point is here. Please to explain. Thanks

The main point was the bolded part--42,000 public sector jobs added and 16,000 lost in the private sector.

I believe in a small govt. Why is Bush's cabinet 15 (used to be 14--before 9/11) people, while the Liberal cabinet was 38 people--to govern a country similar to California in population and GDP? Monopolistic bureaucracies are very costly. At least Harper's 28 member cabinet is a start in the right direction.

Then I tried to compare it to life in my province--the NDP govt seems to have their hands in everything here. I was upset with that imbecilic Calvert's latest announcement that he would not lower business tax rates--when we have the highest in Canada. We have very competitive neighbors to the west and south. We're having a drainbrain--we're losing our brightest and most ambitious. We're filthy rich in resources, yet we struggle. Why? I contend it is because of the leftwing economic policies.