Former premier Brian Peckford says a freeze on spending and public-sector wages should be the first act by the next government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Peckford says that would go a long way toward eliminating the province’s nearly $2-billion deficit.

But he says it would have to be a “real” freeze on wages and spending, with no loopholes that would allow reclassification of employees at higher salary levels.

Peckford says that could see the deficit reduced to zero within five years.

The former premier says that would also stop the $16-billion debt from climbing and help eliminate it over the next 10 to 15 years.

Peckford says he’d also support an Atlantic Accord on the fishery alone that puts the province at the table with the feds on all issues related to the industry.