One Liberal leadership contender says reducing spending and the size of government is essential to the province’s survival. However, it won’t be through mass layoffs.
The Liberal leadership race for the province’s next Premier resumed on Monday, after being put on hold for nearly two-months due to COVID-19.
John Abbott rolled out some of his policy ideas in a news conference yesterday—the first day of the re-launch of the leadership campaign.
Abbott says across-the-board layoffs would only make things worse, and jeopardize the province’s economic recovery.
He believes there are other ways to help reduce costs. Abbott says they need to define, once and for all, what services they will deliver and at what costs.
Abbott says his team would start by looking at how they can support business and work outwards from there. He believes it needs to be done, that it cannot wait or afford to wait, and now is the time to get it right.
Abbott also suggested adopting more technology in healthcare, increased home care, and an accelerated retirement plan as ways to reduce government’s workforce and protect jobs for young people.
The Liberal leadership hopeful rolled out policy plans in a number of areas, including:
- Shutting down Nalcor and putting it back into Hydro, while refusing to start up Muskrat Falls until government guarantees ratepayers will pay no more than 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour.
- Forming an All-Party Committee on the economy and an Economic Task Force.
- Get rid of red tape and break down barriers to investment and growth.
- Support for the oil and gas sector from the federal government as the province transitions to a greener economy.
Liberal Leadership candidate Dr. Andrew Furey expects to roll out his policies through the course of the campaign. The leadership will be decided on August 3.