Investing in Our Communities

A Presentation and Discussion with CUPE BCPresident Barry O’Neill and Manjit Sidhu

Representative USW Wood Council

Local Solutions For B.C. Municipalities

SmithersMarch 26, 2008

Co-sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress

Smithers Labour Force Make Up

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Houston Smithers British Columbia

Educational Services 4.90% 6.70% 6.90%

Health care and social assistance

5.20% 11.60% 9.90%

Public Administration 4.00% 8.90% 5.60%

Logging and Forestry 43.20% 11.30% 4.70%

Mining and Mineral products 4.20% 3.00% 2.00%

Agriculture, food and beverage 1.70% 1.20% 3.00%

Retail Trade 12.60% 14.30% 11.6

Accommodation and Food Services

6.70% 7.70% 8.3

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Smithers and Houstonamong the most vulnerable Communities

Smithers Socio-Economic Facts

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1. Smithers population of 5,400, is down from slightly from 2004

2. It makes up 13.5% of the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District

3. Workers are three times more likely to be in logging and forest products than provincially

4. It is a regional service and tourism centre W/higher levels of work in these areas

5. A higher proportion of its population is under the age of 24

6. Ten per cent of residents are over the age of 65 compared to 13.6% for the province

7. Average incomes in Smithers are roughly $2,00 less than the provincial average

8. Employment income is 72% in Smithers compared to 65.9% provincially

9. Visible minorities make up 3% of the Regional District compared to 21% for the province

10. Aboriginal People make up 14.8% compared to 4.4% for the province

11. At 22.2%, the proportion of lone-parent families is slightly less than the provincial average

12. Forestry accounts for 39% of income in the district while 24% is from the Public Sector

13. A slightly higher proportion of 18 year-olds do not graduate from high school

14. While there is less serious crime in this area, there are higher levels of spousal assault

15. Life expectancy at birth is two years less than the provincial average

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Free Trade vs Fair Trade

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The First TILMA

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Public Debt and P-3’s

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$64,387,000,000

$84,144,000,000

$32,018,000,000

$28,912,000,000

$55,232,000,000

$34,013,000,000

$20,000,000,000

$30,000,000,000

$40,000,000,000

$50,000,000,000

$60,000,000,000

$70,000,000,000

$80,000,000,000

$90,000,000,000

2005 2006 2007

Taxpayer supportedborrowing

Long term contracts(P3s etc.)

Total

Untitled

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Open Forum

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