B.C. added 39,900 jobs new jobs last year, reducing the province’s unemployment rate to 6.9% from 8.7% a year ago and adding proof that the BC Liberal jobs plan is boosting the economy, Premier Christy Clark said at a March 13 press conference at North Vancouver’s Seaspan Marine Corp.
One of the biggest job-creating events in the past year was when Seaspan won an $8 billion shipbuilding contract last October that will enable it to create 4,000 new jobs.
In her Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan six-month progress report, Clark pointed to a series of job-creating “achievements” of her government, including that:
- in the past six months, four mines have either started construction, received key approvals or permits or had operations extended;
- the National Energy Board has approved a 20-year export licence for the Kitimat liquified natural gas facility;
- $50 million has been committed to terminal, road and rail improvements at the Deltaport container facility as well as $15 million to support road and rail utility infrastructure expansion at the Port of Prince Rupert;
- an immigration task force has been established and has toured the province to seek advice for how to better integrate new immigrants; and
- more than $500 million is being invested annually for labour market and training programs.
