By Staff
January 7th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario Achieves Strong Job Growth and Investments in 2023
NDP: Conservatives’ corruption, chaos costs Ontarians 48,000 jobs
Which statement do you want to believe?
Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli presents the 2019 budget as Premier Doug Ford looks on at the legislature.
Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, issued this statement following today’s monthly employment release by Statistics Canada, which showed that while employment in Ontario decreased last month, nearly 120,000 jobs were created in 2023, including over 22,000 jobs in the province’s manufacturing sector.
Over the last three years, Ontario attracted more than $27 billion in new investments from global automakers, parts suppliers, and electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers.
In 2023, Ontario secured new auto investments from companies including Volkswagen Group’s historic $7 billion investment to build its first overseas EV battery cell manufacturing plant in St. Thomas.
“And, to further strengthen our end-to-end auto supply chain, we launched the fourth round of the Ontario Automotive Modernization Program, partnering with 26 parts suppliers that invested almost $9.6 million and created 111 new, good-paying jobs across the province”, said Fedelli.
$7 billion investment to build EV battery cell manufacturing plant in St. Thomas.
“In the auto sector and across all sectors, our government is supporting small and medium-sized businesses and creating the conditions for jobs to grow.
“While 2023 was a great year for job creation in our province, we cannot take this success for granted. In 2024, we’re going to continue with our targeted and responsible approach to ensure Ontario remains one of the best jurisdictions in the world for companies to invest, grow and create jobs.”
The New Democrats pointed to different numbers to make their point:
MPP Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre), Official NDP Opposition critic for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, released the following statement after Ontario lost 48,000 jobs in December:
““Every single one of these jobs represents a person whose life was upended and just found it even more difficult to make ends meet. While some other provinces are seeing an increase in jobs, Ontario is on a notable decline.
“It’s no wonder Ontario is losing jobs – Ford and the Conservatives are too busy covering up their own corruption scandals and rearranging dinner party fundraisers for their wealthy insiders.
Health Care workers protesting job losses.
“We can’t solve the housing or health care crises while we’re losing thousands of good people and jobs in those sectors.
“The Ontario NDP are proposing real solutions to solve the affordability crisis and create jobs – like our plan to get the province back in the business of building housing, and reopening emergency and operating rooms by investing in health care.”
Quick facts
In December 2023, Ontario lost:
- 20,000 jobs in construction
- 7,400 jobs in manufacturing
- 7,400 jobs in health care and social services
The unemployment rate now stands at 6.3% in Ontario.
Love the headline.