TORONTO - Finance Minister Jim Flaherty calls the latest Canadian job numbers encouraging.
Flaherty says the country's economy remains fragile, but calls the modest improvement in the unemployment rate a sign conditions are moving in the right direction.
That rate fell to 8.2 per cent in February from 8.3 per cent a month earlier as the economy gained 21,000 net jobs.
Flaherty says the numbers are a little better than the market expected, calling that a good thing.
He also says he's not surprised, saying he's been hearing "fairly positive" news from business, but not "ecstatic" news.
Flaherty calls it "terrific" that many of the jobs created last month went to men aged 55 and older.