Alberta loses another 18,000 jobs

Stats Can has released the latest job numbers – and they don’t make for pretty reading in Alberta, or the rest of the country.

Published

4 months ago

December 6, 2019

Dave Naylor

Stats Can has released the latest job numbers – and they don’t make for pretty reading in Alberta, or the rest of the country.

More than 18,000 jobs were lost in the province in November, while across Canada it was the worst month for losses in 10 years.

Wholesale and retail trade sectors led the decrease.

The stats show that year-over-year there has been little change in total employment in Alberta with the jobless rate now sitting at 7.2 per cent.

In Calgary, it was 6.9 per cent, down from 7.2 percent, while Edmonton saw a whopping increase to 7.7 per cent, up from 7.1 per cent.

The job loss story was the same across Canada as 38,400 full time and 32,800 part time jobs vanished.

Nationally, the unemployment rate sits at 5.9 percent, up from 5.5 per cent in October. That’s the biggest one month jump in 10 years.

Jobs in the natural resources sector saw losses of 25,000 positions in the last year in Alberta and British Columbia.

Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets):

Newfoundland and Labrador 11.2 per cent (11.1)
Prince Edward Island 8.0 (8.4)
Nova Scotia 7.8 (8.0)
New Brunswick 8.0 (8.1)
Quebec 5.6 (5.0)
Ontario 5.6 (5.3)
Manitoba 5.6 (5.3)
Saskatchewan 5.8 (5.1)
Alberta 7.2 (6.7)
British Columbia 5.0 (4.7)

dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com

Twitter: Nobby7694

Related Topics:#jobs Alberta Economy unemployment

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Dave Naylor

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard. He has served as the City Editor of the Calgary Sun and has covered Alberta news for nearly 40 years. dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com

Kenney says up to 3,100 Albertans could to die from coronavirus

But Kenney said those same projections show that 1.6 million Albertans would get sick and 32,000 would die without social distancing measure.

Published

18 hours ago

April 7, 2020

Dave Naylor

Premier Jason Kenney said Tuesday night that probable scenarios show 800,000 Albertans will get coronavirus and deaths could hit 3,100 by the end of May.

But Kenney said those same projections show that 1.6 million Albertans would get sick and 32,000 would die without social distancing measures.

If all measures on self-distancing and isolation continue and are respected, Kenney said Alberta death figures could be between 400 and 3,100.

Kenney said those social distancing and isolation rules will last at least unto the end of May which is when he said the virus would peak.

He said he was giving Albertans the figures with “complete candor” and he “wasn’t going to sugar-coat it.

“For now, let me say we are confident that our health system will be able to cope, and that we have the supplies on hand,” he said.

He said as part of the government strategy to get the economy going, the provice was aiming at doing 20,000 coronavirus tests a day to get the people who are negative back to work.

And he said Alberta would do much more than Ottawa was in testing and, if needed, quarantining travellers arriving in the province.

He said cellphone apps could be used to help track people in quarantine.

On Tuesday, Alberta reported 25 new cases of the virus bring the provincial total to 1,373

“Our per capita number of recorded infections is the second-highest in Canada, after Quebec, but that is in part because our brilliant scientists and lab technicians are conducting one of the highest levels of COVID-19 testing in the world,” Kenney said.

Kenney said Alberta’s curve is similar to countries that have successfully slowed down the spread of the virus like South Korea.

“This is the greatest challenge of our time,” Kenney said.

There have been 26 deaths across the province, including 12 in the McKenzie Town long term care home.

Earlier Tuesday, Kenny said unemployment in Alberta could hit 25 per cent, a mark not seen since the Dirty 30s.

He added the provincial deficit could triple from $7 billion to $20 billion this year.

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard

dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com

Twitter: twitter/Nobby7694

News

Leaders thank businesses and Canadians

Five more residents die at Calgary seniors home.

Published

5 days ago

April 3, 2020

Dave Naylor

Businesses, non-profits and individuals have been stepping up all over the country to offer products and services that have been identified as necessary.

ATCO has offered trailers with a potential for remote testing, distilleries began making hand sanitizer, Suncor has donated masks, Shell has donated isopropyl, a major ingredient in producing hand sanitizer, and McDonald’s and Tim Hortons have ensured truck drivers can order food for pick-up.

“I’m deeply touched by the outpouring of support we’re seeing from private and non-profit organizations, both foreign and domestic. When times are tough, Alberta’s spirit of ingenuity and generosity always answers the call,” Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Friday.

In Ontario, the government has put out a call for “viable, innovative proposals that can quickly provide critical goods and services and the greatest benefit to the people of Ontario,” a government release said.

“Ontario has an army of innovators, entrepreneurs, and the hardest-working people in the world ready to roll up their sleeves, support our frontline healthcare workers, and beat this virus,” said Premier Ford.

“This mass mobilization of government, business, communities and private citizens to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep people safe and healthy represents one of the largest and most ambitious efforts undertaken by Ontario in generations.”

The Prime Minister announced Tuesday that almost 3,000 Canadian companies have been able to add production to meet critical supply needs of medical and personal protection equipment, as well as test kits, and other companies have donated personal protection equipment they had in supply.

“Canadian companies are answering the call to provide critical support to our health care workers, who are on the front lines of our country’s fight against COVID-19. As the situation continues to evolve, the Government of Canada will be there to work with Canadian industry to find solutions that will support our medical professionals and protect the health and safety of all Canadians,” the Prime Minister said.

Alberta

The province reported an additional 107 cases bringing the total to 1,075. The province also announced five more COVID-related deaths in Alberta bringing the total to 18.

Four of the deaths were from the Mckenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre in Calgary, bringing the total to eight from the single senior’s residence.

108 cases may be community transmission meaning they cannot be traced to international travel or known cases.

174 people have recovered.

British Columbia

The province reported 53 new cases bringing its total to 1,174. Four additional COVID-related deaths were also reported bringing the province’s total to 35.

641 people have recovered.

Manitoba

The province has identified 15 additional probable cases bringing its total to 182. Manitoba also announced its second COVID-related death.

11 people have recovered.

Saskatchewan

The province reported 14 new cases Thursday bringing its total to 220.

48 people have recovered.

Provincial cases:

· Quebec: 6,101 confirmed cases, including 1 recovered and 61 deaths

· Ontario: 3,675 cases including 501 recovered and 105 deaths

· British Columbia: 1,131 confirmed cases including 641 recovered and 31 deaths

· Alberta: 1,075 confirmed cases including 172 recovered and 14 deaths

· Saskatchewan: 220 confirmed cases including 48 recovered and 3 deaths

· Nova Scotia: 207 confirmed and presumptive cases

· Newfoundland and Labrador: 195 confirmed cases and 1 death

· Manitoba: 182 confirmed cases including 11 recovered and 2 deaths

· New Brunswick: 95 confirmed and presumptive cases

· Prince Edward Island: 22 confirmed cases, and 3 recovered

· Yukon: 5 confirmed cases

· Northwest Territories: 1 confirmed case

· Nunavut: 0 cases

There are currently 12,909 cases across Canada with 2,608 from B.C. to Manitoba.

Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean is a Senior Reporter with Western Standard
dmaclean@westernstandardonline.com
Twitter @Mitchell_AB

News

Calgary Fire Dept. saves the day for locked down birthday parties

Published

5 days ago

April 3, 2020

Dave Naylor

Planning a depressing lockdown birthday party for a young ‘un?

It’s the Calgary Fire Department to the rescue!

Fire Chief Steve Dongworth announced a plans on Friday to have a fire truck show up at the homes where people are self-isolating inside while they celebrate a birthday.

Dongworth said the fire truck would blast their sirens and the firefighters inside may get on the loudspeaker for a predictable awful version of “Happy Birthday!”

The program is open for any Calgary children between the ages of four to twelve, and anyone over 75.

He said the fire truck would hopefully get to the birthday party about 2 p.m.

Dongworth said some firefighters had already started doing this on their own volition before the department made it a city-wide program.

“Those families have been fairly overwhelmed (when the fire trucks showed up), said Dongworth.

The chief said the “Drive-by Birthday” program will last until the end of May but could be expanded.

Dongworth said the surprise for the younger children should be kept a secret in case the local fire truck gets called away for an emergency but that “we will get to you eventually.”

To book a fire truck for your party go here.

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard

dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com

Twitter: @Nobby7694