Auditor General Exposes Conservatives’ Poor Data on Job Vacancies

May 6, 2014

OTTAWA – The Auditor General’s (AG) 2014 Spring Report clearly confirms that the Conservatives’ undermining of Statistics Canada has left the government unable to accurately address the economic needs of Canadian communities, said Liberals today.

“Today’s report from the Auditor General exposes the Conservatives’ job vacancy data to be of little to no value, and it is clear that they have no plan to deliver economic growth for middle class families,” said Liberal Finance Critic, Scott Brison. “Despite years of recommendations to collect better labour market information, the Conservatives have failed to provide job vacancy data that would help ensure the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and other policies actually contribute to economic growth in Canada.”

The Auditor General’s report concludes that Statistics Canada does not know where job vacancies exist in communities across the country. For example, “reported job vacancies in Alberta could be in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, or any other community in the province.” This is a stunning rebuke of the Conservatives’ ability to make informed decisions on jobs and the economy, including on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

“The Conservative government undercut Statistics Canada’s ability to assess the needs of Canadian communities, and as we see today, the National Household Survey has let one million Canadians fall off the map,” said Liberal Industry Critic, Judy Sgro. “Instead of supporting Statistics Canada, the Conservatives are using poor data and Kijiji job postings to paint a picture that justifies more temporary foreign workers. This prevents Canadians and permanent residents from having the first shot at available jobs.”