Nova Scotia Tories launch election campaign with promise to heal wounds

PC Leader Jamie Baillie painted himself as the antidote to"the wounds" left by Stephen McNeil's Liberals as hepitched himself asNova Scotia's next premier.

The Progressive Conservativeslaunched theirelection campaign in Dartmouth at a rally at Nova Scotia Community College's Akerley campus Saturday morning.

The event was held one day ahead of an anticipated election call on Sunday.

• Premier StephenMcNeilcoy about election call

'We've seen his arrogance'

"We've had four years of Stephen McNeil. We've seen his anger. We've seen his arrogance leadership matters," Baillie told the crowd of about 250 candidates and supporters, who were packed into half of the college's gym.

The provincial Tory leader spoke of the Liberals fractious relationship with labour groups and said people without family doctors, teachers and the film industry "know what bad leadership is."

"[McNeil's] been pulling this province apart and we have the scars to show for it ... this election is about healing the wounds," Baillie said."You don't turn to the person who made the mess to clean up the mess."

People waved signs with slogans "Vision, Action, Baillie" as the former CEO of Credit Union Atlantic greeted supporters.

He walked in to Annie Lennox's "Walking on Broken Glass" the lyrics alluding to a movement that's popped up in the lead-up to the campaignthat aims to defeat the Liberals.

'Tired of being told we're broke"

Baillie accusedMcNeilof"plotting" an election with a "damage-control"budgetthat won't make it through the legislature when an election is called.

He said ifMcNeildoesn't have confidence in the budget, why should NovaScotians.

Banning the term 'have-notprovince'would be the governingPC party's first bill, he said to cheers.

"I am so tired of being told we're broke, I'm so tired of being told that we can't afford the things we want,"he said.

Fixed election dates

The PC platform wasn't unveiled at the rally.Baillie said they're planning several announcements related to the economyin the coming days.

He told reporters in his first term he would repeal a controversial piece of legislation that imposed a contract on teachers. He also said he wouldrestore vocational training in schools.

Bailliebegan his speech by taking a crack at a misspelling in a recent mock-up of a Liberal election ad. Healso chidedMcNeilfor flip-flopping on his support of institutingfixed dates for elections, something he promised to institute within the first six months in office.

Baillie made a flub of his own when hetold the crowd the next election would be Oct. 30. Party members later clarified to CBC hemeant May 30.

A similar PC election rally was being held Saturday in Sydney.

The NDP launched its election platform last Sunday.