Quebec sheds 26,000 jobs, 'It's normal' says Marois

CTV Montreal Published Friday, March 7, 2014 12:35PM EST Last Updated Friday, March 7, 2014 6:35PM EST

Premier Pauline Marois does not seem flustered by news of massive job losses in Quebec in February.

"I think it's normal," she said at a press conference while campaigning in Blainville Friday.

Marois said that the February result - which saw 26,000 jobs disappear in Quebec - does not represent a true portrait of the job situation in Quebec.

"We can't conclude based on the results of this month," said Marois.

This 26,000 lost jobs topped all provinces and led Quebec's unemployment rate to leap upwards from 7.5 percent to 7.8 percent.

Other provinces saw much more promising results, as 19,000 jobs were gained in Alberta, 6,000 in Alberta and 3,000 each for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

This employment decline follows a slight upward trend that began in September 2013, according to Statistics Canada.

Marois has promised to create 172,000 jobs over the next five years.

She rejected the notion, floated by Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard, that the job losses are a consequence of the PQs focus on the Charter of Values and language.

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Quebec sheds 26,000 jobs, 'It's normal' says Marois