Ontario is facing renewed economic pressure after new labour data from Statistics Canada showed the province losing jobs in several major sectors while national employment continues to rise.
StatCan reported that Canada added 54,000 jobs in November, bringing the national unemployment rate down to 6.5 per cent. But Ontario didn’t follow the national trend. The province saw declines in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, education and other sectors that usually support economic growth.
The numbers prompted concern from the Ontario NDP, who say the latest report shows the province falling behind while the rest of the country sees improvement.
Catherine Fife, the NDP’s Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, said the data reflects a deeper structural problem.
“Ontario used to be the manufacturing powerhouse of the country,” she said. “The fact that we’re seeing manufacturing jobs at 1976 levels is deeply concerning. Losing 7,400 manufacturing jobs in a single month should be treated with urgency.”
Catherine Fife – MPP for Waterloo
Her comments follow this week’s news that Algoma Steel is cutting 1,000 jobs, despite receiving more than half a billion dollars in combined provincial and federal support. Fife said these losses are part of a broader trend that is affecting families across Ontario and creating economic instability.
“Whatever this government is doing, it’s not working,” she said. “People are seeing growing instability in the economy, and the government isn’t treating this seriously.”
Fife added that industries facing tariff pressures, including forestry, steel and auto, have repeatedly called for predictable support, long-term contracts and consistent messaging from the province.
“They don’t want handouts. They want stability,” she said. “We should be focused 100 per cent on protecting Ontario jobs and creating new export pathways.”
She also pointed to Ontario’s housing challenges as an opportunity to support the forestry sector through provincial procurement of affordable, locally built housing. She said the move would create jobs while addressing the shortage of attainable homes.
Fife also raised concerns about youth employment. While StatCan reported job gains nationally for Canadians aged 15 to 24, she said Ontario continues to struggle.
“One in four youth are unemployed or underemployed in Ontario,” she said. “High rents, high food prices and transportation costs are driving young people out of the province.”
The provincial government has not yet responded to the NDP’s criticism. StatCan’s November report is the final major economic release ahead of the Bank of Canada’s next interest rate decision.
