Some of the jobs that the B.C government claims were created as a result of its Jobs Plan were actually created before the plan was implemented, according to the NDP.
On Friday, the B.C. government issued a press release stating that 41,800 jobs had been created as a result of its Jobs Plan, which was launched in September 2011.
There were 29,400 job gains in B.C. since November 2011, according to the press release. It breaks down the jobs according to sector:
- professional, scientific and technical services – 11,900 jobs;
- forestry, fishing, mining and gas extraction – 8,900;
- information, culture and recreation – 1,900;
- education services – 1,400.
Two-thirds of the 41,800 new jobs the B.C. government credits to its Jobs Plan were created before the plan came into effect, the NDP said.
"Job growth has been fairly stagnant since the jobs plan was announced in late September 2011," said NDP finance critic Bruce Ralston. "That must be why the Liberals continue to triple the actual job numbers by saying growth from before they announced their plan is somehow a result of it."
The NDP cites Statistics Canada figures that show B.C.'s job growth was 13,900 since the plan was announced. During the same period, the province lost more than 14,000 jobs in the private sector, the NDP said.
The NDP also slammed the BC government for spending tax dollars on government ads boasting about its Jobs Plan. The NDP said the B.C. government has spent $5 million on TV, radio and Internet advertising ads. A total of $15 million was budgeted for advertising the Jobs Plan, including international marketing.
