Liberals face two-pronged attack in Newfoundland and Labrador leaders debate

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador’s Liberal leader defended his policies Monday night as the leaders of the other major political parties accused him of lacking substantive ideas to improve the province’s flagging economy.

As the perceived frontrunner in the campaign, Dwight Ball’s promise to repeal a harmonized sales tax increase that the Progressive Conservatives would bring in next year was among the economic policies the Tory and NDP leaders focused on during the debate broadcast by CBC.

Conservative Leader Paul Davis, whose party has been in power for 12 years, challenged Ball to come up with concrete policies to help the province’s energy-based economy.

“His plan is about creating plans,” said Davis, a former police officer who became premier about a year ago. “They can’t tell you what they are going to do and how they are going to do it.”

NDP Leader Earle McCurdy echoed that criticism, saying Ball is promising economic diversification but he hasn’t explained how he would achieve that goal.

“I took the time to read the Liberal plan and, quite frankly, just saying diversification over and over and over again does not constitute a plan,” said McCurdy, a former union leader who is trying to win a seat in the legislature for the first time. “It does not give examples, it doesn’t do anything except say you know the word diversification.”

But Ball said as a businessman, he understands how increasing the HST from 13 to 15 per cent on Jan. 1 would keep consumers from spending money.

“That (higher sales tax) kills the economy,” he said. “It stunts growth. It takes money out of the pockets of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”

Ball said the Tories have squandered the province’s oil wealth and the economy cannot be built on energy resources alone, telling voters that Davis’s economic plan is based on oil that costs $90 a barrel when it is about half that price now.

A large part of the 90-minute debate, which was held with one week left in the campaign, was spent on economic issues, as well as health care, climate change and how to help the province’s remote, rural communities.

But Ball also faced questions from Davis and McCurdy over how he would cut government spending. McCurdy told him the only way he can save the $400 million the Liberals are touting is by cutting government jobs.

“There are no job cuts in our plan,” Ball replied.

The number of seats in the legislature drops through redistribution in this election from 48 to 40.

At dissolution, the Tories had 28 seats in the house, the Liberals 16, and the New Democrats three. One seat was vacant.