According to Statistics Canada the number of Canadians receiving employment insurance benefits was little changed in June at 577,400, following eight consecutive months of declines.
However, the number of beneficiaries was down in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, while Newfoundland and Labrador recorded the only notable increase.
B.C.’s 1.3% decline in June reflected the ninth consecutive monthly decrease for the province.
In B.C., the number of beneficiaries fell in all 25 large urban centres in the 12 months to June.
The largest percentage declines were in Fort St. John, Campbell River, Kamloops, Vancouver and Prince George.
In Vancouver, the number of people receiving benefits fell 28.3% to 24,400, the fastest decline since the start of the downward trend in June 2010.
In Victoria, the number of beneficiaries decreased 13.6% to 2,900.
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV