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Surely, the minister jests! Butler responds to HRLE's release on labour market and employment levels February 13, 2007 Roland Butler, MHA for the District of Port De Grave and Opposition Critic for Human Resources, Labour and Employment, says that the minister must be joking if he thinks that a 15.4 per cent unemployment rate is a sign of progress. In a press release yesterday, the minister painted a glossy picture of what is occurring in the province. While Minister Skinner talked about a two per cent drop in unemployment, Statistics Canada was reporting an increase in the unemployment rate. "Statistics Canada reports that this province lost 3,100 full and part time jobs in January," said Mr. Butler. "I find it hard to believe the minister is spinning this as a good thing. We have a concerning trend of out-migration and Minister Skinner says things are going right on the employment front. It is obvious he is living in technicolor. "We had 4,849 people leave the province in the third quarter of 2006 according to the Economics and Statistics branch of our own government, and the minister thinks this is a reflection of a booming Newfoundland and Labrador economy. Surely the minister jests. "With higher out-migration, is it any wonder why we see lower unemployment numbers? Is it any wonder why, according to Statistics Canada, that we saw a total loss of 3,100 full and part time jobs in January month? His numbers are two per cent down because our population is decreasing with out-migration and people are moving west for work. "There is nothing positive out of this announcement from the minister. The only thing I see is more proof that this government has led us into four dubious categories; leading in out-migration, leading in unemployment, leading in jobs lost and leading with the highest job loss in the country for the month of January. I don't see anything positive in the announcement other than I'm positive the minister should pay a fine for misleading the people."
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