We certainly raised the issue in our discussions with the department, because you rightly point out that the unemployment rate is not a reliable indicator of the reality. As you say, it could be due to regional devitalization.
Also, you're absolutely right about the data. If a region's labour force has declined, that also contributes to lowering the unemployment rate.
It's good to raise the issue of other indicators, but they still need to be tested. I'm thinking, for example, of modified unemployment rates that would take into account the number of people who are no longer in the labour force. I won't go into the details, but we really need to test the indicators and see to what extent Statistics Canada could provide reliable data.