P.E.I.'s Liberal party has serious doubts about the promises and surpluses brought down in the budget by the governing Progressive Conservatives Tuesday, a budget that will be the last before an election.

'You just have to look at the track record.'— Liberal Leader Robert Ghiz

"In fact, Mr. Speaker, the nature of today's events are so obvious, that I am surprised that the Conservative campaign song isn't being piped through the sound system," Liberal Leader Robert Ghiz said in the legislature.

Robert Ghiz was expecting to hear the Tory campaign song.
(Government of P.E.I.)

Rhetoric aside, Ghiz told media waiting outside the chamber that the government showed before the last election that it can't be trusted.

"You just have to look at the track record going back to the last 2003 budget before the last election," said Ghiz.

"Polar was hidden, the deficit was announced at $11 million and it came in at $125 million — the largest ever in the province. I'm really quite skeptical of everything that was in this budget."

The budget does more than promise a $1.3 million surplus. It delivers $95 million more spending, $54 million of that on new initiatives, including a plan to roll back tuition at UPEI by 10 per cent. There are tax cuts, too, a raising of income brackets and a cap on the gas tax which saw gas prices fall Monday night.

Tuition cut not enough

NDP Leader Dean Constable likes government's idea to roll back tuition fees, but notes the savings for students quickly disappear.

"I don't think it was enough," said Constable.

"If you look at it, it's a 10 per cent rollback and an increase every year by two per cent. Which means that by the end of this cap, in four years, we'll be almost back up to the 10 per cent from where we started from. And in five years, we'll be right back where we started."

'We think our past record will assure Islanders.'— Premier Pat Binns

Premier Pat Binns defended the budget, saying the combination of new money from Ottawa and a strong provincial economy means every promise made can be fulfilled.

"These are not outrageous, or outlandish kinds of promises. They're doable within our revenue framework. And we think our past record will assure Islanders that we'll continue to act in their best interests."

Binns has already said he intends to call an election this year, and the Tories reiterated Tuesday this is the budget they intend to campaign on.