Mr. Speaker, Stats Canada reported this morning that employment in Canada increased by nearly 21,000 jobs in February, lowering the unemployment rate from 8.3% to 8.2%.
Today's numbers are further proof that Canada's economic action plan is working. February marks the fifth month of job gains in the past seven months. Since July 2009, Canada has created almost 160,000 new jobs.
While Canada is weathering current global economic challenges better than nearly every other industrialized country, our recovery remains fragile. The Prime Minister has repeatedly said that our government will not be satisfied until those Canadians who have lost their jobs are working again. That is why our government will fully implement year two of Canada's economic action plan and roll out the remaining job creating stimulus projects across the country.
While the opposition ignores what matters most to Canadians, jobs and economic growth remain our top priority.