Canada's employment continues upward trend in March
Darpan News Desk IANS, 06 Apr, 2023 03:40 PM
Canada's employment grew by 35,000, or 0.2 per cent, in March, following little change in February and strong growth in January and December, Statistics Canada said.
Employment has generally trended up since September 2022. Over that period, the number of people employed has increased by 383,000, or 1.9 per cent, the national statistical agency added on Thursday.
Employment gains in March were concentrated among private sector employees and there was little change in the number of public sector employees and self-employed workers, the agency said.
According to the agency, for the fourth consecutive month, the unemployment rate was five per cent in March, just above the record low of 4.9 per cent observed in June and July of 2022, Xinhua news agency reported.
Total hours worked rose 0.4 per cent in March and were up 1.6 per cent on a year-over-year basis, the agency said.
Average hourly wages rose 5.3 per cent to 33.12 Canadian dollars ($24.5) on a year-over-year basis in March, compared with 5.4 per cent in February, Statistics Canada added.
The water taxi and a Tofino Air Beaver float plane carrying six people collided while heading for the same dock in October 2021. The pilot and passengers were able to safely get out of the aircraft, although three sustained minor injuries, and within minutes it had capsized.
The provincial government has tabled changes to its Civil Forfeiture Act that would allow for the creation of unexplained wealth orders to help prevent money laundering by those who hide their assets in goods or through family members or associates.
B.C. Premier David Eby, who attended the news conference with Freeland, said he recognized there are "significant parcels" of funding from the last budget that have not yet been deployed in the province "in a significant way."
The highlight of the evening was a panel discussion featuring accomplished women leaders from diverse fields, including journalism, business, politics, arts, and activism. Seasoned journalist, anchor/reporter with Global National, Neetu Garcha moderated the discussion.
For the full year, tourism spending jumped 45 per cent to $74.38 billion as domestic and international travel roared back with COVID-19 restrictions lifted. However, that figure sits more than a fifth below 2019 tourism spending levels, which neared $95 billion.
This week's federal budget says the Canada Revenue Agency will also present a plan in 2024 to expand the service, following consultations with stakeholders and community organizations. The move toward automatic tax filing, first promised in the 2020 speech from the throne, is one of several budget measures the Liberals say are meant to help Canadians with the cost of living.
