This was written in April of 2009, as the bleak financial implosion was continuing. The times were worrisome, as I was unemployed at the time as well.
The bleak employment data from Stats Canada continues to get worse, with unemployment rising by 0.3% to a 7 year high of 8.0%.
Over 61,000 jobs disappeared which created the 0.3% jump this past month.
For those of us in Ontario the news is bleak:
Employment in Ontario edged down by 11,000 in March. Since October, declines have totalled 171,000 (-2.5%), mostly in full-time work. Although the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.7% in March, it has risen 2.0 percentage points since October, an increase similar to that of British Columbia and Alberta.
That number is huge, 171,000 jobs disappeared, which is very worrysome for folks like me that are looking for jobs.
Hope in Easter
For most this is a long weekend (or even an EXTRA long weekend if you take Monday off as well), but for Christians it is the beginning. Easter is the cornerstone of the Christian belief system, and I will be celebrating that as well this weekend. Sunday is also the end of Lent, so your Lenten Financial challenge will end then as well. Remember it is good to review how your challenge went and whether you wish to continue on with the challenge (if you were particularly successful).
Remember, Easter is a new beginning and you can use this time with your Personal Finance as well. About 8 years ago my wife and I started a new eating regimen and managed to lose over 160 lbs. between us (and have managed to keep most of it off), so using Easter as a starting point is a very good thing as well.
Due to my enjoyment of this weekend, there may be a post on Friday and on the weekend, but I make no promises.
Tax Time Cometh Soon
Remember your filing date looms on April 30th, have you done your taxes? Now might be the time! I did mine with Quicktax this past weekend and now we wait to pay the man. The sooner you get it done, the better.
What’s funny is I did taxes for everyone in my family, yet I still have 4 returns I can do with Quicktax (they only count a return as someone who made over $25K), too bad I can’t transfer that to next year.
Previous Months Unemployment for 2009
- Unemployment Up Sharply to 7.2% in January 2009 the impact of the great meltdown was starting to settle in.
- Bad Unemployment and No Pensions for February 2009 things were very not good back then.
- Unemployment Up Again to 8.0% March 2009 not too surprising really. March was still deep in the heart of the meltdown.
- Unemployment Up a Bit for April 2009 so these are the actual Unemployed count from Stats Canada
- More Folks on EI in April 2009 – a sad time still
- Employment down (again) Unemployment Up (again) for May 2009
- Unemployment Numbers up a Little – The numbers for June 2009
- For July 2009 Unemployment Rate Hovers – is this a plateau? Hard to tell.
- Better Employment Numbers September 2009 – shows that life started to get better as 2009 went on. We hoped.
- Less Employed in October 2009 8.6% Unemployed – OK so our hopes were dashed for a while.
- November 2009 Employment Numbers: A Festivus Miracle! a month early for Festivus, but good news, is good news.
- Nothing New on Jobs Front for December 2009 the year did not end with a bang unfortunately.
Save yourself money next year
Use UFile next year. It is much cheaper than QuickTax and of equal or better quality. You can even import your QT files.
You also get 8 returns with UFile and it can do all kinds of tax returns so you don’t need to upgrade to do small business returns etc.
We are all looking to support Canadian companies and products so, I respectfully suggest you consider UFile for your 2009 returns.