Canada Lost A Record One Million Jobs In March

[appalachiablue]

Source: BBC News

More than one million Canadians lost their jobs in March, as the country locked down to combat the coronavirus.The data, released by the federal statistics agency on Thursday, also pushes the unemployment rate to 7.8%.

March saw the largest loss of jobs in a single month since the records began in 1976. There have been 19,290 confirmed cases in Canada and 436 deaths, according to figures from John Hopkins University.

One day before the figures were released by Statistics Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned citizens to prepare for "a hard day for the country". In his a briefing on Thursday after the new numbers were released, Mr Trudeau said: "As stark at those numbers are they aren't a surprise."

"We all knew this was going to be a tough time," he said, adding that other countries are facing similar problems as a result of the global pandemic. Mr Trudeau added that portions of the economy can expect to re-open over the summer, after the first wave of infections have passed. But he warned the smaller outbreaks can be expected to continue throughout the summer...


Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52232674

[Newcanuck]

1. Yep.

I was laid off yesterday. I work for a law firm and have been laid off for 12 weeks so hopefully the firm survives until this all ends. Yesterday, I felt sorry for myself. Today, I'm feeling that I can manage this. I have backup from the government, health care that I've already paid for with my taxes, and I have a (so far) healthy family and if we all get through this, I'll take it as a win. Do I mind that my taxes pay for other people as well? Not one bit. I'm so glad when hubby and I chose to emigrate from apartheid S.A. that Canada was our chosen country and now we're all proud Canadians. Stay safe out there. Stay home.

[luvtheGWN]

2. Taking care of each other -- that's what we do.

That's what is expected of us.

My nephew-in-law expects to be laid off next week (youngest lawyer in his firm) and my niece is teaching 4th grade via "tele-education". I'm a widow and retired with good pensions so all I have to worry about is dealing with boredom while staying at home!

We'll get through this -- it's what my fellow Canadians and my American pals will do, in spite of the dire news we hear each day.

The biggest message is "Stay home to stay safe" and though we can't celebrate Easter and Passover this weekend, if we don't stay home, we'll end up celebrating Christmas the same way -- alone.

[FarPoint]

3. My son and his wife are in Toronto...

They are French trained chefs...worked for David Chang and Daniel Boulud…. they have a good savings...but it is an awful struggle for them not to cook every day...it is in their blood...

[Delphinus]

4. Glad to hear from

you and others in this thread.

Stay safe all.