Paul Davis defends PC record during pitch to business audience
Paul Davis' remarks to a St. John's business luncheon on Wednesday had the ring of a re-election bid.
Davis spoke to the St. John's Board of Trade to some of the province's business leaders, highlighting key developments and economic milestones since the governing Progressive Conservatives took power in 2003.
Though Davis did not mention the party by name, his speech was a rebuttal of recent Liberal criticism. He referenced that Liberal leader Dwight Ball also spoke to the St. John's Board of Trade two weeks earlier.
Davis defended the PC record against opposition claims the government has squandered the oil boom.
"[Ball] talked about many things and he wondered what had happened to the revenue from oil, so it is important that I clarify where [those revenues] are," Davis said, who added that the current slump in oil prices is creating challenges in returning to a surplus soon.
'Held hostage' by oil prices
"We've all seen what is happening with oil prices, and oil prices are a significant part of our revenue, and we are held hostage by that," Davis said.
"Later this month, when OPEC countries have their discussion, we will get a better idea of their long-term plan to better evaluate what the implications are for us on our own budget," he said.
While paying down the province's multi-billion-dollar debt is important, Davis said money spent by his government in recent years is also money that has been well spent.
Fewer people on social assistance
"When you spend $1 billion on poverty and you have less people relying on social programs than you ever did before [...] people who are working and functioning for businesses in the province, that is a big move forward," said Davis, who later also defended money spent on upgrades to the province's infrastructure in recent years.
"That allows the economy to continue to operate, that provides funding, and puts money in people's pockets, and that creates the spinoff opportunities that exist," Davis said.
"It has brought us out of these deficit eras faster than other provinces."
Defending his speech, Davis said it is important to keep in mind where the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are today compared to 10 years ago.
"We have more people working than we ever did before, more people are working with good incomes, good salaries and good revenues in their own homes [...] unemployment is lower and we are doing work with education," he said.
Still no hint of an election
Despite mounting pressure for a timeline about when the province's next general election will be called, he again did not give any indication as to when that would happen.
"When we decide that it is time to go to the polls then we will do that."
Davis and the PCs have lost a string of five byelections to the Liberals since last fall, and are competing in two others set for Nov. 25.
The Tories currently 29 of the 48 seats in the House of Assembly. The Liberals now hold 14, while the New Democrats have three. Two seats are vacant.