Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservatives have released "Our Plan," a 52-page document that outlines the promises contained in their failed budget and a handful of other commitments.
The document is mostly a summary of what the party bills as its record of achievement, as well as promises and commitments made in the tabled budget and economic stimulus plan.
The Tories say they're only making $15 million in new pledges.
"In this economy, Nova Scotians know we can't afford the big expensive promises of the Liberal party. We simply can't gamble our future on the NDP's vague four-page leaflet," PC Leader Rodney MacDonald said while on the campaign trail Tuesday in Musquodoboit Harbour.
"I believe the people of Nova Scotia will vote for a solid, affordable plan and a fiscally responsible party that has proven it can manage Nova Scotia's finances."
MacDonald dismissed any suggestion that he should have included the hundreds of millions of dollars in previously announced promises and commitments in the official tally. He said all of the numbers are contained in the budget, for example.
The platform document was released with little fanfare Tuesday. Unlike the other parties, the Tories chose to have a campaign worker simply hand out the plan as he escorted MacDonald to the podium for his daily media event. There are only 30 copies.
Initiatives in the document include a tax credit for families contributing to RESPs and a 1 a.m. curfew for children under 16, which have already been announced.
The Tories are also promising companies that hire new apprentices a 10 per cent rebate on their salaries. Those companies could get up to $4,000 back for each new employee.
MacDonald said the first thing his party would do if re-elected is pass a budget so that infrastructure projects can proceed.
NDP Leader Darrell Dexter said he's too focused on his campaign to critique MacDonald's platform document. However, he remarked on the timing of its release, saying Nova Scotia was the last province to table a budget and the Tories are the last party to unveil their campaign platform.
The minority MacDonald government tabled a spring budget on May 4. But the government collapsed on a finance bill before MLAs could debate the budget details, which prompted an election.
Nova Scotians head to the polls on June 9.
With files from The Canadian Press
