There aren't a lot of promises in the Progressive Conservative economic policy. They only promise to do what they've been doing.
"What we're saying is that our plan is working," says Premier Pat Binns in reference to his government's record since 1996. "We've created 10,000 new jobs."
Recent months have seen unemployment rates hit a 25-year low.
At an economic policy announcement Friday, Binns said a Tory government would try to encourage growth in different areas of the province by expanding its tax free zone program. If re-elected his government would continue sponsoring trade missions for Island businesses, and increase aid for students attending craft and design schools.
Electricity generation also came up at the economic policy announcement Friday. Binns said if re-elected his government will continue with its plan to bring natural gas to the Island, and will follow through with its decision to have any future rate hikes by Maritime Electric regulated by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.
"IRAC will have the regulatory power to make sure that that's right," says Binns "that they are not charging more than is a rate that gives them a little bit of margin for the production they have."
There was some promise of spending in the announcement. A new Binns government would put another $500,000 into the Food Technology Centre, and double the amount of assistance - up to $50,000 - available under the entrepreneur loan program.
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