HALIFAX, NS – Statistics Canada jobs data released today paints a grim picture for the Annapolis Valley, says Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie.

The Valley is down 2,700 jobs in the past two years and almost 4,000 people have left the labour force all together. Most of those lost jobs, 2,500, were full-time jobs.

Other data shows fewer jobs are available for young Nova Scotians under the age of 24. Jobs filled by young people in Nova Scotia declined by 5,600 jobs in the past year.

Baillie says high taxes are killing jobs in the small and large businesses that Valley families depend on, but fuelling growth in government jobs in Halifax.

“We have seen it over and over again when our businesses close or lay off employees,” said Baillie. “They say the costs are so high they can’t compete.”

A report by the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, sponsored by Scotiabank, indicates that increasingly, the high wage jobs in Nova Scotia are government jobs. Baillie says that trend is unsustainable because Nova Scotians are paying the highest taxes in Canada.

“This NDP government only knows how to take people’s money and spend it on bigger government” said Hants West MLA Chuck Porter. “These numbers prove that they are getting it all wrong when it comes to creating new jobs and helping companies grow.”

Baillie says a PC government will encourage job creation by getting the fundamentals right: balancing the budget, lowering taxes, eliminating unnecessary regulation and adopting an energy plan that integrates economic and environmental goals.

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