St. John’s was on the Prime Minister’s election trail today as he promises more time and money to help families raise their kids.

Justin Trudeau, speaking at the Daybreak Child Centre on the Boulevard, noted that the bills pile up early on just when parents are being paid less but baby products and child care cost more.

.@JustinTrudeau is flanked by the three incumbent MPs, @SeamusORegan, @NickWhalenMP and @McDonald4Avalon. @VOCMNEWS @590VOCM @BenMurphyVOCM pic.twitter.com/lr9jaZ8UIM

— Fred Hutton (@Fred_Hutton) September 17, 2019

A Liberal Government would give families up to $1,000 more by increasing the Canada Child Benefit by 15 per cent for kids under the age of one. Families would get the money right away by making maternity and parental benefits tax-exempt at source. This means that no federal taxes would be taken off from the Employment Insurance cheque when new parents receive it.

Trudeau would also introduce a 15-week leave for parents who adopt.

The PM claims that their plan is by far and away superior to that of the Conservatives under Andrew Scheer.

The announcement did not go without incident:

One woman, who is not a member of the media, took it into her own hands to ask the PM about sexual assaults in prisons.

Didn’t catch the first part of her questioning but she stormed to the front by a reporter.

She was escorted out after. @VOCMNEWS #cdnpoli #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/g5nzJGX6c4

— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphy590) September 17, 2019

No Commitment of Federal Funds for Rate Mitigation

Trudeau stopped short of committing federal funds to the province’s Muskrat Falls Rate mitigation plan.

He says the federal government is still committed to paying for 50 per cent of infrastructure upgrades for municipal wastewater processing, but when it came to the $200-million the province is counting on for rate mitigation, he was less specific.

He says the conversations with the province continue, and the federal government would “be there” for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, but the as to exactly how, he offered no further information.

NDP Says Liberals Have Been Making These Promises Since 1993

The NDP is not impressed with the child care announcement by the Liberals in St. John’s today. Leader Jagmeet Singh and St. John’s East candidate Jack Harris say they have a plan for Newfoundland and Labrador which includes universal pharmacare.

They note that the Liberals first spoke of affordable childcare back in 1993. The NDP says their plan will make life in Newfoundland and Labrador more affordable.

Conservative Candidates React

The three Conservative candidates on the Avalon Peninsula issued a joint release today in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s trip to St. John’s.

Matthew Chapman the Conservative candidate for Avalon, Terry Martin in St. John’s South-Mount Pearl and Joedy Wall the party’s candidate in St. John’s East say Trudeau has taken the province for granted and accuse the seven Liberal MPs of standing silently by.

They say the Conservatives will introduce a universal tax cut, reducing the lowest-income tax bracket, introduce a Children’s Fitness Tax and Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit, and cancel the carbon tax. They also promise to remove the GST from home heating and energy bills and introduce a green public transit tax credit.