Mr. Speaker, yesterday the chief economist of the Bank of Montreal said Canada's economic growth should remain on track through to the millennium, creating more than one million jobs.
It was therefore no surprise when today Statistics Canada reported the good news. Employment was up by 84,000 jobs over last month's figure, an increase that is 30% higher than predicted. Most of the gain was in full time work and nearly half went to youth. At the same time unemployment fell by 38,000, dropping the rate to 8.6%.
I am particularly pleased that the unemployment rate in my home province of Manitoba is 5.8% better than the national average.
The government knows we have to continue to do more. At the same time the government is assured its jobs and growth strategy is working. This is good news for all Canadians.