VICTORIA – Statistics Canada numbers show the Liberal government continues to fail on private sector job creation as the province drops back to last place in Canada since their taxpayer-funded jobs campaign began, say the New Democrats.

“B.C. lost another 8,500 private sector jobs last month, and the Liberal government doesn’t seem to be too concerned despite promises more than two years ago to boost private sector jobs,” said New Democrat jobs critic Harry Bains.” Since September 2011, B.C. has been last in the country for job creation in the private sector. That is a record the Liberals should be ashamed of, especially considering the millions of taxpayer dollars they spent on slick advertisements deceiving voters about how great everything is.”

In September 2011, the premier said her “recipe is that we grow a thriving private sector.” Bains said her recipe obviously hasn’t turned out considering B.C. is worst in the country for private sector job growth since she spoke those words.

Statistics Canada numbers this morning also show that since the Liberal government last sat in the B.C. Legislature, British Columbia has dropped 21,400 full-time jobs.

“The Liberal government hasn’t really had a plan for jobs at all, except to put all their eggs in one basket, hoping that one day the yet-to-exist LNG industry will solve all problems,” said New Democrat finance critic Mike Farnworth. “What’s especially concerning is that they are risking the development of the industry by stalling the creation of a tax regime.

“Originally they promised to release it before the end of last year, and now we’ve learned it won’t even be ready for this legislative session. The earliest the tax regime will be put in place would be during a fall legislative session, unless the Liberals cancel it as they have so many times.”

Farnworth noted that one company, Suncor, has already walked away from initial investments for LNG in B.C. due to market prices.

“Companies are waiting to find out what this government has in store for them so they can determine whether they want to move forward” said Farnworth. “Stalling on the tax only delays or risks the development.”

In the meantime, the Liberal government has virtually abandoned every other major sector, leaving them out of the picture as private sector jobs drop in B.C.