A Good Job at Alberta V/s A Healthy Lifestyle at British Columbia – Take your pick!

Job-Seekers’ Hub: A vast mass of Canadian workers is on their way to Alberta as the recovery from recession picks up the pace. In the first quarter of the fiscal year, Alberta recorded the quickest growth rate in the country. Statistics reveal that labor movement is back on the track after having almost exhausted in last 2 years.

Stats & Facts: Throughout 2010, Alberta has led Canada’s job growth and there are stats and facts to support. The employment rate has risen by 2.8 per cent. The unemployment rate of the state is 5.4 per cent whilst the same for Canada is 7.4 per cent. 5,275 job seekers migrated from other provinces to Alberta between April and June as per the official figures. The Canadian Employee Relocation Council conducted a survey that revealed that more than 50 per cent of Canadians wish to move west, precisely to Alberta.

British Columbia: Undoubtedly, Alberta is creating the highest number of jobs but living standards in the westernmost Canadian province, BC offer a far better lifestyle. The yearly Canadian Community Health Survey revealed that BC is still the best province when it comes to healthy living standards a survey conducted amongst Canadians aged twelve or above revealed. “BC is always established as the leader in healthy living standards, it is something to celebrate,” said Mike de Jong, the Health Minister.

Related Statistics: The survey reveals that BC residents have the least self-reported obesity rate at 44 per cent. Almost four to five times a day BC residents consume fruits and vegetables. They are the most physically active Canadians with the lowest smoking rate of 17.8 per cent and alcohol consumption rate is a petite 15.7 per cent. Even after this, de Jong believes there is some scope of improvement and thus he has launched more campaigns against unhealthy habits such as consumption of tobacco.

Strategies: Mike de Jong has already formulated new plans for health improvement. He recently announced a C$68.7-million Healthy Families BC strategy in order to back the province’s efforts in order to continue their already better and healthier lifestyle. Furthermore, he believes that everybody in the province should stick to their healthy habits. StatsCan reported that if such habits are maintained the administration can save up to C$4 billion in health care cost YOY.

and the Match goes to…: On one end, Alberta is creating adequate number of jobs for people to feed their families whilst Health Ministry of British Columbia is making efforts to improve the lifestyle of their residents. In essence, BC is the winner. The heavy influx of workers in Alberta may not ensure healthier lifestyle. To satisfy all in such a case will lead to heavy incurring of costs. At the same time, the administrators of BC are saving huge amounts that can later be invested in the betterment of their citizens – once again!