PC leader Tony Wakeham has made his first set of campaign promises as everyone waits for the election to be called.

For his first announcement, Wakeham has committed to implementing a local benefits agreement for all public infrastructure projects valued at more than $500,000.

He says the agreement will prioritize the hiring of local skilled trades workers by awarding contracts to local companies, and create opportunities for apprentices and underrepresented groups such as women, gender diverse people, and those who are Indigenous.

A PC government would also start a review of current benefits agreements, and make revisions as necessary.

Wakeham also references benchmarks recommended by Trades NL earlier this week, saying he will work with unions to incorporate those into such an agreement.

At his second announcement in Carbonear, Wakeham committed to providing volunteer fire fighters with training on how to respond to floods, forest fires, medical calls, and other emergencies. He also says all volunteer fire departments will get wildland coveralls.

The PCs have also committed to doubling the volunteer firefighter and search and rescue tax credits, maintaining a fully operational waterbomber fleet, prioritizing repairs on the province’s fifth waterbomber and having it stationed in Labrador, and hiring 50 more wildland firefighters and recruiting them four weeks earlier.