I agree with The Guardian opinion letter of Kevin J. Arsenault, Dec.
11, 'Why relying on GDP is unethical.’
Premier MacLauchlan is unethical by continually equating the gross
domestic product as good news for the economy of P.E.I. Also unethical is
the fact that the premier, in his economic speeches, doesn't mention the
high P.E.I. unemployment rate of over 10 per cent, almost double the average rate across Canada.
These factors alone indicate that the economy of P.E.I. is not so rosy as the GDP and the premier may indicate since only certain types of economic activity are indicated in the GDP and the unemployment rate speaks for itself.
As to what is included and excluded in the GDP, if this is accurate in
reading the content of K. J. Arsenault's letter, and I am sure that it is,
Mr. Arsenault is right, GDP should indicate 'generating deceptive
propaganda.’
John R. Shakespeare,
Summerside