Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will head to the polls on February 13, and party leaders stressed the importance of this election on the province’s future at their respective campaign launches yesterday.

As of the latest budget, which was brought down in September, the province’s forecasted debt was just over $16-billion, couple that with the myriad of issues brought on by the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic.

In his speech, Liberal Leader Andrew Furey says never before have we faced such a challenge, and the only precedent will be the one we set.

He believes we have a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to redefine who are as a province for decades to come.

PC Leader Ches Crosbie echoed similar sentiments while speaking to reporters after making his speech.

He thinks this may be the most important election since we joined Confederation.

That importance was not lost on NDP leader Allison Coffin either, who says there will have to be changes to the way we operate as a province.

She says we need to make different decisions if we want anything different to happen. She believes we can make investments that will make people and businesses want to stay here.