Northcoast residents have lost income in the thousands over the last five years

"The average family in Rupert between 2001 and 2006 lost on average $6,000 of income, and in some communities like the Queen Charlottes it was even worse," -- Skeena Bulkley MP, Nathan Cullen, responding to Statistics Canada numbers that show the median income is dropping on the North coast

Last week Mayor Pond penned an effusive entry for the Northern View, suggesting that things have improved on the North coast in the course of the last five years, a claim which under the hard delivery of government statistics doesn't seem to match up with his optimistic impressions.

According to the Statistics Canada data from the years 2000 to 2005, the actual drop in income in Prince Rupert has been 12.7 per cent, among the worst performing economies in the province.

Across Hecate Strait the numbers in some portions of the Queen Charlottes are even worse, all part of the continual decline of many communities in rural BC.

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They are numbers that have both the federal MP and local NDP MLA concerned about the attitudes of the various levels of government as the erosion of jobs and income continues to stalk many areas of rural British Columbia.

The Daily News featured details of the Statistics Canada report as the front page story in Friday's paper.

POLITICIANS LOOK FOR WAYS TO TURN RISING TIDE OF POVERTY

Census showing less money in pockets locally alarms the area's MP and MLA
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Friday, May 09, 2008

Pages one and three

The release of the latest census data last week showed that the average family in Prince Rupert has significantly less income than it did five years ago, and local politicians say they'll continue to fight for their rural constituents to redress the imbalance.

"The average family in Rupert between 2001 and 2006 lost on average $6,000 of income, and in some communities like the Queen Charlottes it was even worse," said Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen. "This confirms just how hard hit our region has been, and it also confirms to me that the federal government is right to continue putting support money into our region, because the numbers don't lie and the region needs the help."

According to Statistics Canada, the median income in B.C. fell by 3.4 per cent between 2000 and 2005, with the 12.7 per cent drop in Prince Rupert putting it among the worst hit.

In the same period of time, incomes rose in every other Canadian province except Quebec, leading NDP Leader Carole James to claim the government of B.C. has turned the province into a sharply divided society.

"These new figures confirm what average British Columbians feel. Under Gordon Campbell they aren't benefiting from B.C.'s economy," said James.

"People are working harder but making less. And with costs increasing, balancing the family budget is harder than ever."

The NDP Leader said that making the situation even worse is a growing crisis in the forest industry, where another 1,000 workers lost their jobs last week, most of whom from rural communities in B.C.

North Coast MLA Gary Coons said the census data shows how hard Rupertites were hit in the past five years, as the decline in income is the second largest among like-cities in B.C., second only to Smithers.

"Premier Campbell's cuts have been hardest on rural B.C., and they refuse to take any concrete action while the main industry in small-town B.C. collapses," said Coons.

"Rural B.C. is being devastated," said Coons.

"It's just one more way in which this province is being divided into winners and losers.

"The people at the top are getting along just fine, but everyone else is out of this government's radar. We need immediate attention to restoring government services and jobs back into our communities to ensure economic sustainability."