Premier Andrew Furey chose to put a focus on what he believes are the dangers of people taking pages out of the “Trump playbook” in the Canadian political landscape during his state of the province address.

Furey delivered the speech to the St. John’s Board of Trade on Tuesday.

He says the problems facing the province are non-political, and people’s contribution to that should be “more than just memes, and better than just blame.”

“Too often these days slogans and rhymes dominate the news,” he said. “The challenge is to rise above the slogans, and if they suggest better is needed, don’t just say that in a slogan. Do better than posting childish rhetoric online. Do better than posting fake quotes, all in an attempt to score political points and sow discord.

“Be better than stoking fears with misinformation. These are moves straight out of a Trump playbook, and the people of this province see it for what it is.”

The provincial PC Party recently unveiled its new election-style slogan “Better Starts Now.”

As well, leader Tony Wakeham admitted the party made an error over the summer with a social media post using quotations to suggest a direct quote from the Premier.

In terms of who he was talking about in his speech, Furey says across the country there are the “polarizing extremes of either right or left” and he is challenging everyone to elevate the conversation.

He says “making things personal (and) trying to turn complex issues into slogans and Dr. Seuss rhymes doesn’t work” to solve the problems at hand.