TORONTO - The governing Liberals are downplaying new figures that show Ontario led the provinces in job losses last month.
Statistics Canada says Ontario shed 75,400 full-time jobs in October, but gained 36,600 part-time jobs.
That pushed the province's unemployment rate up to 8.1 per cent -- surpassing the national rate of 7.3 per cent.
The figures are a blow to the Liberals, who were reduced to a minority government in the Oct. 6 election.
Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid called the losses a "setback," but says Ontario can still take credit for half the jobs that were created in Canada this year.
The opposition parties say the figures prove the government is on the wrong track and should start listening to their job-creation ideas.
