The public relations machinery of Premier Danny Williams’ government was poised for action in mid-March as its scribes waited for the bad news that would accompany the release of Canada’s 2006 census.

With the exception of Saskatchewan, the census shows Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province to see a population decline since the last head count in 2001. The number of people inhabiting Canada’s chronic economic underachiever was down 1.5% to 505,000; and the acceleration of urbanization, especially to the satellite communities surrounding St. John’s, is another concern.

Worse still, deaths now exceed live births, resulting from an aging population and the flight by youth to points elsewhere.

A cynic would conclude the former cable television magnate now running this province has failed to deliver on his promise to create an economic powerhouse on “the Rock.” But Finance Minister Tom Marshall was quick to put doubting Thomases in place by questioning the accuracy of the census figures.

Far from losing people, the number of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians living in this province has actually grown, according to Marshall. He was hazy on details but apparently believes the population has increased by 1.4%-1.9%. Like any good magician, Marshall doesn’t like to reveal his secrets. And he took pride in revealing that 90,000 jobs will become available between 2007 and 2018, 70,000 as a result of retirements.

Again, details were scanty, but trust has long been the chief stock in trade of politicians in this province. So, when the local branch of the Canadian Federation of Business disclosed 3,000 unfilled positions among businesses at the end of 2006, we were not supposed to ask how future vacancies will be filled when today’s “help wanted” ads are being ignored.

The reality is that the lack of full-time, well-paid jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador has siphoned away younger workers while forcing those who remain to put off starting families. Telephone call centres have been the largest single source of new jobs in this province; but even though they provide steady work for thousands of people, they are widely considered interim employment.

In addition to the lack of quality jobs, a shrinking provincial market has meant small businesses can’t afford wages to compete with Alberta and Ontario for skilled employees.

Fortunately, there are positive, although vague, economic prospects for Newfoundland and Labrador, thanks to healthy base metals prices. The pace of mining exploration and production has quickened in recent years as a result of booming world markets. In Labrador, iron ore mines in Labrador City and Wabush are expected to hire workers, as is Voisey’s Bay Nickel Co.

On the Rock, Aur Resources Ltd. has started a copper, zinc, silver and gold mine at Duck Pond, near the former Buchans mines in central Newfoundland. Later this year, Anaconda Gold Corp. is expected to open a gold mine near Baie Verte.

In 2006, $97 million was spent on mineral exploration in the province, and the government expects that to rise to $116 million in 2007.

If significant mineral discoveries are made, perhaps demographics will shift from the outports to Labrador and the island’s vast, virtually unpopulated interior. IE