Statistics Canada numbers prove that there has been no progress since Premier Clark launched her “plan” – in fact, B.C. is falling behind.

Since September 2011 – when the premier first launched her so-called “jobs plan” that she said specifically targets the private sector – Statistics Canada numbers show it’s been a complete failure for both creating jobs and wage growth.

While B.C. has the highest cost of living, we have seen the third worst wage growth in the country since September 2011, and the second worst growth in the number of private sector jobs.

B.C. has gained a mere 2,800 private sector jobs in the same time that the working age population has grown by 123,500. This is completely inadequate compared to what the premier promised, or what the people of B.C. need.

It isn’t surprising that we’ve seen a net loss of more than 8,000 people to other provinces over the same period.

This leaves two very important questions for the Liberal government regarding the Premier’s jobs plan failure:

1)    Are people leaving because B.C. has fallen behind on wage growth?

2)    Or are people leaving because B.C. has fallen behind on private sector job creation?

Quote from Shane Simpson, New Democrat spokesperson for jobs: “A progress update on a failed jobs plan is a contradiction in terms.”