Abbott says 'safe' Hogan campaign for N.L. Liberal leadership promises 'nothing new'

The gloves are off. After a month of cordial campaigning, John Abbott accused John Hogan, his sole opponent in the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal leadership race, of proposing "nothing new" in his bid to lead the party — and become premier.

"I would use the word safe," said Abbott when asked to describe his adversary's policy commitments on Thursday.

"There's nothing new or expansive in the platform," added the St. John's East–Quidi Vidi MHA, who made the comments the day after the final debate of the leadership contest aired on CBC.

During that face-off, Hogan, the Windsor Lake MHA who is the Liberal establishment's choice for leader, explained his only campaign promises to date: offering free shingles vaccines to people aged 50 and over, and creating two new government departments. One focused on seniors, the other on families and the cost of living.

Hogan 'proud' of campaign

Since the start of the campaign, when pressed about policies, Hogan has emphasized his "priorities": finalizing the provisional agreement with Hydro-Québec concerning the Churchill Falls power plant, and implementing the recommendations of the Health Accord report on modernizing the health-care system.

"What I'm focusing on is what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are asking me to focus on and I'm very proud of the campaign over the last couple months," said Hogan, a St. John's-based lawyer who has repeatedly said his legal experience will help get the Churchill Falls deal across the finish line.

Abbott announces series of policies, though uncosted

For his part, Abbott, who worked for decades as a civil servant before he became a Liberal minister, has made a number of policy announcements since the start of the leadership race.

Abbott, also based in St. John's, has promised to create a guaranteed basic income for seniors and to build 10,000 homes over the next five years.

During Wednesday's debate, he also pledged to increase rent supplements for low-income people, promised a plan to eliminate public debt and said he'd create a new development fund for Labrador, paid for with revenues from the Churchill Falls agreement.

None of the promises are costed, but Abbott has promised to put an end to budget deficits. Hogan said during the debate Wednesday his government would spend "responsibly," but didn't rule out future deficits.

'Similar approach' to Furey leadership run

"When Andrew Furey ran and I ran the first time, [he did so with a] very similar approach," said Abbott, who ran for the Liberal leadership for the first time in 2020. "Safe campaign with no commitments."

Abbott conceded that Furey's approach worked four years ago. At the time, Furey had the support of the entire Liberal caucus and won the race with 66 per cent of the points. 

But Abbott says this time around he is better prepared. Twelve MHAs — more than half the Liberal caucus, a group including Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne since earlier this week — are supporting Hogan, whose team also includes members of the premier's office, but Abbott has six MHAs on his team.

"I've been commended and complimented for having policy ideas," said Abbott, who spent Thursday campaigning in Marystown. "That's what most people are looking for."

Home stretch of campaign

The next Liberal leader will be chosen at the end of a two-day leadership convention on May 3 in St. John's.

Approximately 14,000 Liberals are registered to vote, about a third fewer than in 2020 when Furey was elected and 40 per cent fewer than when Dwight Ball became leader in 2013.

Hogan spent Thursday campaigning in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Under the Liberal Party's weighted voting system, which ensures that members from all regions of the province have a say in the next leader, each of Newfoundland and Labrador's 40 districts represents 1,000 points. 

When the votes are counted, points are distributed to the candidates according to where they voters live. The winner must earn at least 20,001 points to be elected.

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