Nova Scotia premier accuses Tories of failing to explain ‘$500 million hole’

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil has sharpened his political attacks on Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie with only a few days of campaigning left before Tuesday’s provincial election.

With the polls showing a tightening race between the two parties, the Liberal leader told a news conference Friday that Baillie is trying to paper over a “$500 million hole” in the Tory platform.

The premier, who is seeking a second consecutive mandate, used the phrase no fewer than five times when responding to reporters’ questions, saying Baillie must explain what budget cuts he would make to cover the perceived shortfall.

“He has said he’s going to run a balanced budget, (but) there is no way that you can make up that $500 million without impacting Nova Scotians,” he said.

“He’s not telling Nova Scotians where that money is coming from ... He has not been clear.”

The Conservatives have dismissed the premier’s accusation as a “complete fabrication,” saying their fully costed platform adds up.

However, the premier pressed on, saying the Conservatives’ lack of clarity stands in contrast to the NDP’s commitment, if elected, to amass about $1 billion in budget deficits over the next four years.

“At least (NDP Leader Gary) Burrill is telling Nova Scotians he’s going to have a $250-million deficit next year,” the premier said. “At least he’s being forthright about that. Mr. Baillie has a $500-million hole next year alone. Who knows what he’s going to do after that.”

Meanwhile, Baillie ramped up his appeal for support from traditional NDP voters, saying Friday that voters seeking real change should “give us a try.”

“I believe there is a great desire for change out there and people want to know what’s the best way to get that change,” said Baillie, who leading his party in an election campaign for a second time since 2010. “At this point, this late in the campaign, it’s clear that is the Progressive Conservative party.”

Burrill, who has been party leader for just over a year, has scoffed at Baillie’s bid, saying NDP voters should recall that Baillie was once a “cheerleader” for former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper.

Baillie responded Friday by pointing to his tenure as CEO of the non-profit Credit Union Atlantic, and his work as chief of staff for former Nova Scotia premier John Hamm.

GANDER, N.L. — A Newfoundland woman who bottle-fed a baby moose after it got lost in the woods without its mother is reeling after the local SPCA put the animal down.

Brandi Calder says her husband was building a cabin in the woods near Glenwood when he heard a strange crying noise and discovered the three-day-old calf on its own with no sign of its mother. Calder and her husband took turns feeding the little moose a bottle of goat’s milk mixed with baby cereal throughout the night and called the Gander and Area SPCA in the morning.

But she says the SPCA, which didn’t respond to a request for comment, euthanized the animal within two hours after discovering the Salmonier Nature Park couldn’t take the calf and a veterinarian found it was dehydrated and had diarrhea.