Graham platform promises job creation

New Brunswick's premier says if he's re-elected, he'll focus on job creation that will improve health care, education and services to seniors.

Premier Shawn Graham unveiled his party's full platform for the Sept. 27 election on Tuesday.

Among the Liberal's goals outlined in the 35-page document, called Our Plan for the Future, is a job growth strategy that will create 20,000 new jobs by 2014, with a focus on emerging economic sectors such as information and communications technology, aerospace, biosciences and resource sectors like mining, natural gas and modular construction.

"Ours is the only platform focused on creating the jobs that New Brunswickers want and the jobs that government needs in order to afford, protect and improve health care, to keep our kids at home and to treat our seniors with the respect they deserve," Premier Shawn Graham said in a news release.

[B]Annual expenditure increase of $95 million[/B]

"This is a comprehensive platform that details how we will create the new and better jobs of the future, and how that allows us to continue with our progressive social policies," he added. "Growth is the key. The other parties appear to have no plans for economic growth. That means they will have to raise taxes and cut services. That's not what New Brunswickers want."

Graham also released a complete costing of the Liberal platform.

Graham said the party will be able to implement its platform and balance the budget by 2014, with an annual expenditure increase of over $95 million.

The platform also includes measures to reduce spending annually to offset the increased expenditures.

"Unlike the Conservatives, we do have a plan to balance the budgets, and we do have a plan to grow the economy. Under their plan they have to cut and or tax to balance the budget. That is the fundamental difference between our plan, and their promises," Graham said.