October 4, 2005
MLA Bloy Promotes the Strength of a Strong Economy
Victoria – Harry Bloy, MLA for Burquitlam, took the opportunity during a Private Members’ Statement yesterday at Victoria’s Legislative Assembly to discuss British Columbia’s financial turn around and the strength of a strong economy.
“Over the past four years, British Columbians have seen their economy rebound from worst to first. No longer are we struggling behind Alberta and Ontario but rather we are leading the country in growth, jobs and prosperity,” said Bloy.
Among the economic highlights discussed by Bloy were Statistics Canada figures confirming British Columbia continues to lead the country in employment growth with almost 239,000 jobs created since 2001. With an unemployment rate shrinking to 5.8 percent – one of the lowest numbers recorded since 1981 – Stats Canada reported there were 65,000 more jobs created in 2005 than during the same period in 2004.
“For women, the news is especially encouraging,” said Bloy. “Last month marked a great milestone in British Columbia’s history. For the first time ever more than one million women were employed in our province. According to Stats Canada, this number totalled 1,007,000.”
Along with paying tribute to the B.C.’s small businesses and entrepreneurs – the backbone of the economy, Bloy noted the increase in government revenues from $23 billion in 2001 to today’s total of $32 billion and the $30.5 billion in record expenditures that are being invested in areas such as universal health care and public education.
Taking aim at critics who object to reducing taxes for more than 730,000 British Columbians, Bloy charged that, “it is frightening anyone would object to entirely eliminating provincial taxes for those who earn $15,500. It is a fact that removing as many people as possible from tax rolls has the greatest benefit on lower income earners.”
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