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VICTORIA — Premier Christy Clark often highlights the fact B.C. has the lowest jobless rate in Canada, but rural and remote areas in the province are struggling with major industry downturns and job losses.

The power of jobs to support families and build strong communities is a major theme in the Liberal leader’s bid for re-election on May 9, but some mayors say high unemployment is tearing at the fabric of their communities.

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“I would challenge this government to really open its eyes and look at what’s going on in our small community,” said Shirley Ackland, the mayor of Port McNeill in northern Vancouver Island. “You can’t live in the north island if there are no jobs here.”

She said sawmill closures have hurt Port McNeill, where 80 per cent of residents are dependent on the forest industry for work.

Merritt Mayor Neil Menard said a sawmill closure and layoffs at another lumber mill resulted in the loss of about 350 jobs in the past 18 months.