N.B. PC platform shy on financial details

New Brunswick Progressive Conservatives released their election platform in Riverview on Monday — without tallying the cost of their long list of promises.

The campaign manifesto, which was given to the news media before the official release, attaches dollar figures to some promises but does not offer a complete costing.

PC Leader David Alward had said at many campaign stops since the election began that voters would see the true cost of all his party's promises.

"As our platform fully is unveiled, the cost of our commitments will be unveiled," Alward said on Sept. 8 when unveiling his catastrophic drug plan in Campbellton.

But the platform document released Monday does not have a dollar figure attached to that promise.

The Tories say their promises add up to $141 million in annual new spending by the time all promised programs are in place.

HST promise

The Tory platform promises not to raise the harmonized sales tax and says the party is committed to "propose new laws to start down the road to balanced budgets within four years."

Alward has already promised to cut small business taxes and halt the planned tax cut on corporations below 10 per cent. As well, Alward has promised to stop the planned tax cut for the province's top income bracket, which includes people making more than $118,000.

New Brunswick is facing a $749-million deficit in 2010-11.

The Conservatives have criticized the Liberals for racking up such a substantial deficit. But the Tories but would not commit to erasing the red ink by the end of their mandate if victorious in the Sept. 27 election.

The Liberals said Monday that the party promises to balance the budget by 2014, through a spending cap and a third-party review of spending.

Conservative checklist

The Alward Tories have also used a tactic employed successfully by Bernard Lord in his 1999 election campaign.

The PCs have included a "10 by 10" checklist of promises that will be completed by the end of 2010, which is similar to Lord's 100 Days of Change initiative in 1999.

• Oct. 12: Swear in a new cabinet of 15 ministers, plus the premier.
• Oct. 15: Appoint a new energy commission.
• Oct. 22: Create a premier's citizen engagement unit.
• Oct. 28: Form a finance minister's task force on pensions.
• Nov. 4: Start a review of the $2,500 cap on financial awards for soft-tissue injuries in auto accidents.
• Nov. 12: Announce new legislative committees and allow third parties to participate.
• Nov. 19: Hold forestry summit.
• Nov. 22: Start pre-budget consultation.
• Nov. 23: Deliver the throne speech.
• Dec. 1: Table amendments to the Property Tax Act to freeze seniors' assessments and cap others for two years.

'Misleading' numbers

The Liberals reacted shortly after the Tory campaign document was released, criticizing the financial details as "intentionally misleading."

Shediac-Cap-Pelé Liberal candidate Victor Boudreau, a former finance minister, said in a statement that several of the Tory promises are not accurately budgeted.

For instance, Boudreau said the Tory childcare plan is estimated to cost $35 million, while the Liberals cite the New Brunswick Childcare Coalition that estimates the program will cost $106.5 million.

Boudreau also said the Tory plan to freeze NB Power rates would cost $252 million over three years.

"In just these two areas, there is over $150 million per year he isn't telling you about and that is with the truth right in front of him. What else isn't he telling you?" Boudreau said in his statement.

"This so-called costing raises a question of credibility and David Alward owes it to New Brunswickers to explain the gaps between his numbers and the real numbers."