Churchill outlines what first 100 days of a N.S. Liberal government would look like

Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill says if his party wins the provincial election, their first 100 days in office will be focused on reducing taxes, trying to remove the carbon tax and promoting women's health.

Churchill outlined the plans Thursday morning, the same day he was scheduled to appear with NDP Leader Claudia Chender and PC Leader Tim Houston at a televised debate on CTV.

The Liberals' plans include:

• Taking the necessary steps to reduce the HST by two points.
• Proclaiming the Coastal Protection Act.
• Appointing a cabinet minister in charge of women's health.
• Meeting with the other Atlantic premiers to discuss how to remove the federal carbon tax.

The plan to remove the carbon tax would centre on convincing the other three Atlantic premiers to collaborate on a regional cap-and-trade system that would focus on large industrial emitters, with savings passed on to consumers.

Churchill said so far he's only discussed the issue with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt one time, but he believes P.E.I. Premier Dennis King and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey would be interested, too.

"We've got four governments that do not want the carbon tax and we have an alternative that can be used to lower the price at the pumps but still do our part to lower emissions," he told reporters in Halifax.

As long as the federal government requires provinces to price carbon, Churchill said it makes sense to pursue an option that has the least impact on the public. The federal government imposed its tax on Nova Scotia after Houston's proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without a consumer price on carbon was rejected.

If a future federal government were to do away with the requirement, Churchill said his plan would no longer be necessary.

Churchill said there is nothing in the PC platform that required an election call to achieve, while he said the NDP platform does not go far enough to address the affordability and housing challenges people face.

"I am confident that our platform is best positioned to tackle the challenges that people are dealing with right now, but also to set the next generation up of Nova Scotia for success."

The provincial Liberal leader said the announcement Thursday by the federal government that it will provide temporary GST breaks on a number of items beginning in December is not enough and the province needs a long-term plan for a lower and fairer tax system.

"We're the highest-taxed province in the country. We also now have some of the highest costs of living, so it's not just about putting in a short-term Band-Aid to help people get through this moment; it's about making sure we are an affordable province to live in with fair, lower taxes for the long run."

Houston and Chender spent Thursday preparing for the debate and did not make formal campaign announcements.