CROFFORD WELCOMES PEOPLE MOVING FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA

Released on December 29, 1998

Labour Minister Joanne Crofford today welcomed people moving from

British Columbia to Saskatchewan.



"Our weather is cold, but our welcome is warm," Crofford said.



Crofford was responding to a report by the British Columbia government

that showed that in the third quarter of 1998, Saskatchewan had a net

in-migration from British Columbia of 505 people. According to the

report, this is the first time this decade that British Columbia has

lost population to other provinces.



Crofford noted that observers in British Columbia are pointing to the

stronger economies in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba as the

primary cause of the migration trend.



"The B.C. vice-president of the Retail Council of Canada noted that

the economic dimension' in our prairie provinces is quite vibrant

and positive and optimistic'," Crofford said. "The vice-president of

policy for the Business Council of B.C. says that the population flow

is a reflection of our strengthening economy and need for workers. He

adds that the migration to our province from his is pretty

remarkable'.





"Economic forecasters are predicting that our economy will

continue to grow. We are on track to meet our target of 30,000

net new jobs. Our unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 is

9.7 per cent, compared to a national rate of 14.1 per cent.

Facts like these are obviously being noticed by job seekers in

places like British Columbia," Crofford said.



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