Over 82,000 loose jobs in Canada

Updated at: 0730 PST, Saturday, March 14, 2009

OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says despite rising job losses the country will face a labour shortage when the recession ends. Another 82,600 workers lost their jobs in February, putting the unemployment rate to 7.7 per cent - the highest level in more than five years. Harper says these are tough times but Canada must prepare for the economic recovery and the need for labour it will bring. The prime minister's words in London, Ont., today fell in line with a new message he's been sending - namely that Canada will emerge from the economic downturn stronger than ever. On Tuesday, he said the country would emerge from the worldwide recession before any other country. He called the crisis an opportunity for Canada to position itself to be the first to catch the `wave' of economic recovery when it comes.