Gélinas: Rising jobless rate proof of Liberal's failure

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas said Friday that the job numbers for December 2015 show that the provincial government has failed Sudbury families.

Unemployment has risen 2.4 per cent compared to the same time last year and now stands at 8.4 per cent, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

“The Liberal government’s record for Sudbury in 2015 was a record of failure,” Gélinas said in a news release. “The Wynne Liberals sat and watched as Sudbury mines closed and jobs that families and communities depended on were lost.

“Instead of helping families and businesses by investing in job creation, the Wynne Liberals pressed ahead with its fire sale of Hydro One, despite the concerns of mining companies and local businesses about increasing hydro costs.”

She also said the governing Liberals have failed to move on the promised projects for the city, such as four-laning Highway 69, Maley Drive and the development of the Ring of Fire.

“This year, the Wynne Liberals need to begin moving on their promises of job creation for Sudbury,” Gélinas said. “They need to stop their selloff of Hydro One, which will hurt families and business with increased hydro rates during a time of high unemployment.”

Sudbury’s unemployment rate is now the second highest in the province among major cities. Only Windsor, at 9.7 per cent, is higher. This time last year, the rate was six per cent.