Municipal matters take centre stage in provincial election

The provincial election campaign took on a distinctive municipal flavour Saturday as the three party leaders took part in a forum in Gander.

The event was hosted by Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, which is staging its annual general meeting in the town.

Liberal Leader Dwight Ball, PC Leader Paul Davis and Earle McCurdy, leader of the provincial New Democrats, fielded a barrage of questions from a panel, and from municipal leaders in the packed house at the Arts and Culture Centre.

Topics ranged from taxation policies and infrastructure funding to regional co-operation and the future of rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

It was the fourth time all three leaders have assembled for a debate, and the second time in Gander in recent days.

There was very little separation between the three leaders, with a willingness to overhaul the current system of property taxes, invest in areas such as clean drinking water and waste water, and focus more on bolstering the economic viability of rural areas.

Focus on infrastructure

Appleton Mayor Derm Flynn, past-president of MNL, said he was pleased with the responses of the leaders, but added, "We probably understood the fact that they would be positive towards our questions."

He said an issue that's top-of-mind for most municipal leaders is a commitment by newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invest billions of dollars into a national infrastructure program.

All three leaders agreed they would participate in such a program in order to leverage a greater amount of funding for the province, and Flynn said that's critical.

"We got to make sure that we are in their to get our share, and it's not just based on population," he said.

Despite the province's struggling financial standing, he said it's imperative that the next government and municipalities "step up to the plate" and partner with Ottawa.

"We're going to have to adjust our budgets to go after those dollars," he said.

Meanwhile, the three leaders continued their campaign after the forum, with their sights set on the Nov. 30 provincial election.