Noon Update for April 9, 2020

Disturbing unemployment numbers were released today. They show 132,000 British Columbians lost their jobs last month, as a result of COVID-19. BC's Minister of Finance says the province's 7.2 percent unemployment rate does not include thousands of British Columbians who were looking for work in March, but could not find it. And, Carole James expects those numbers will increase when the next unemployment figures are released. James says she hopes businesses will be able to "hang on" with help from a series of tax cuts and deferrals that the province announced last month. James says the government has set aside one and a half billion dollars as part of its economic recovery plan. But, she says "flattening the curve is our best economic plan at this point."Nation-wide, the unemployment rate is 7.8 percent, meaning just over one million Canadians lost their jobs in March. Statistics Canada reports a further 800,000 Canadians had their hours cut in half and another 1.3 million Canadians looked for work but could not find it. Another grim statistic is Canada's youth unemployment rate, which is 16.8 per cent...more than double the national rate. Yesterday, the federal government announced it would cover the entire cost of hiring students under its Summer Jobs Program. Today, James praised the move but offered no answer when asked whether BC would create a similar program.BC's Premier says lives have been turned upside down, people are feeling stress anxiety, disconnection and perhaps depression because of the COVID-19 crisis. John Horgan says that's why the government will spend $5 million dollars to expand mental health services. Most of the money will go to enhancing virtual counselling services. They include the BounceBack program that provides online coaching, along with programs delivered to youth through Foundry BC. There will be new programs for front line health and community care workers with peer support and psychological counselling. The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions says most programs will be free or at a very low cost. Judy D'Arcy says people will be able to access some of them without having to get a referral from their doctors.Written and reported by Lisa Cordasco. Senior Reporter and News Director for CHLY 101.7FM.Have a tip? Email: [email protected]: @lisacordasco / @chly1017FMFunded in by the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada through Heritage Canada in partnership with the Community Radio Fund of Canada.