My fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians:

In the coming days, the choices we make will decide this province’s future. I believe the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are ready to embark on this journey together and build on the successes we have achieved in the past several years.

This province has prospered in significant ways under the leadership of a Liberal government. We have risen above the difficult times and fought hard as a people to find our way through the challenges. We’ve turned challenges into opportunities! We have risen above those who have tried to drag us down; we have risen above those who said we might never succeed.

Newfoundland and Labrador is succeeding. And ladies and gentleman, today I will outline a plan that we will continue on that path to success!

Since 2001, the government that I lead has embarked on an agenda of change that challenged the status quo.

What happened as a result of this?

As a province we have proven that we can lead the country in economic growth. We have done that in three of the past five years.

But what does it mean for you and your family?

You now have an opportunity to take a closer look at the women and men that want to serve you and your families, and ask them that question.

This campaign, ladies and gentleman, is about choice.

Clear political choice. At the heart of this campaign is how we wish to define ourselves in the next four years and beyond - but particularly in the next four years.

The choice before you is not solely between different political parties. It is between different visions of the future, fundamentally different ways of governing.

You must choose between the vague promise of future prosperity or the reality of solid proven results.

Some would have you believe that it is time for a change - It most certainly is! We have worked for 10 years for this kind of change:

I believe we should stay focused on our plans. We should keep on creating more jobs, bringing more people home, maintain our long-term economic and social plans and keep investing those dollars in health care and education.

We must continue to invest in our people

The Liberal government has a plan to accomplish this and much, much more. We have a plan with only one agenda. The only agenda, ladies and gentlemen, is to continue to improve the lives of individual Newfoundlanders and Labradorians day over day, week over week, month over month, year over year.

Many people throughout the province have continually told us that health care and education are the foundation of basic human services. You have told us to improve those social services and it will make your lives better. You have told us that everyday life issues are just as important as mega-projects.

Our plan speaks to those core values. They are at the heart of our Strategic Social Plan centered on early intervention and prevention. We have a plan that will carefully balance better services and fiscal prudence. Our plan is for the future of Newfoundland and Labrador. We will continue to make progress as a people, to make our lives better in our homes, for our families, for our communities, for the province as a whole.

So what is in it for you and your family?

The Liberal Government announced that as part of our long-term planning in education, we will eliminate school fees beginning in the school year of September 2004.

It’s the next step in our education investment plan. Last year our education priority was on special needs.

This year we invested in additional secretarial and janitorial support services to ensure cleaner and safer schools. Next year it is the elimination of school fees. It is part of a strategic plan based on sound fiscal practice and well-thought-out policy.

I am pleased to tell you today that following the elimination of school fees, we will eliminate the cost to parents for school books in Grade 9 and Levels I, II and III. Electing a Liberal government will mean that by the end of the new mandate all aspects of education for children in Kindergarden to Level III will be Free.

This investment in education is fundamental to the values of a Liberal government and I believe it is fundamental to your personal values. Our investment also extends into post-secondary education.

The Government that I lead is committed to keeping our brightest minds in this province. We believe it is now time to make another major investment tohelp students who are burdened with student debt. We will guarantee that a graduate of a recognized post secondary institution, who chooses to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador, will not pay any provincial income tax for the first $100,000 they earn. This will provide a great head start for our young graduates right here in our own province!

We must also find real ways to help our young people access post-secondary education in the first place. We will ensure greater access to the student loan program by middle-income families.

We will increase the amount of family income that qualifies young people for a student loan.

Maintaining a healthy population remains the number one priority for a Liberal Government. We are committed to an assurance of accessible, quality health care.

Our commitment continues with ensuring that over the course of the next mandate we will increase the number of MRIs in this province from one to four, reducing the waiting list for elective MRIs. We will ensure that additional kidney dialysis will be available in Carbonear and Gander next year.

We will reduce the average wait time for cardiac surgery, and we will reduce the wait time for nursing home services.

These and many other proactive reforms will serve as a roadmap for the future. Our Strategic Health Plan, Healthier Together, sets out a range of measures to enhance the quality, accessibility and sustainability of health services in the province. This plan clearly outlines the specific goals for the next mandate of the Liberal government.

Our government is rooted in the liberal principle that strives to ensure that no individuals are marginalized - another essential part of our strategic social plan. We believe we must invest in our people to offer them the opportunity to participate in strong and vibrant communities. Our direction will focus on making sure the lives of all our citizens are improved.

We believe we must help seniors with the stresses of winter.

Our Liberal government will increase the Low Income Senior’s Benefit from $350 to $500 for single people and from $750 to $1000 for married couples.

The government I have led for the past two and half years has had significant success in labour issues and contract negotiations. Our public service received a 15% increase in pay in the last round of contract talks. It was the right thing to do as the commitment and dedication of our public service is paramount to the success of our province.

Our Liberal government is committed to no layoffs and no reduction in services. We will continue to honour all collective agreements as well as the process to achieve them.

This must be done to maintain the integrity of the public service and allow us continued progress.

The quality of life we are fortunate to experience as

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians is an important aspect of the Liberal platform. That is why the Liberal government will increase the province’s minimum wage rate to ensure it remains competitive with our Atlantic counterparts.

What else is in it for you?

The government I lead will introduce changes that will give the government the final say in setting electricity rates. Government commits to guarantee that home owners, industrial and commercial users will maintain the lowest electricity rates in Atlantic Canada.

As well, we will pass legislation to mandate a 30% decrease in third party liability rates for all consumers of auto insurance in the province.

Motorists will not only benefit from reduced insurance rates, but from better roads. We will earmark all revenue collected from the gasoline tax to improve roads in the province.

For the past two and half years our team has had the opportunity to make clear decisions to improve the way we live and improve the circumstance of our great province. We have done that because we believe that people - you and your families - are the greatest and most important resource.

Our fundamental belief is that we can continue to grow by investing in people even further. We are not willing to accept the stereotype that we are behind other provincial counterparts. We contend that we are leading our counterparts in innovation and ingenuity.

You have an opportunity now to choose the direction for the next four years. I invite you to take a closer look at our record and the commitments we have made and kept. Take a closer look at our platform and our focus. Take a closer look at your candidates and why they want to be your representatives.

Our Liberal government will embark on a journey that includes you.

Our team will come into the communities of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Our journey will take us into your kitchen, your schools, your hospitals, your businesses.

We will not be driven by revenue and profit. We will be driven by the real social and fiscal needs of our citizens. Together we will find the right balance.

I know that people expect their families, their communities and their province to make progress and move forward. People expect the lives of their children to be better than their own.

People expect that if they work hard their lives will get better. You deserve no less!

So ladies and gentlemen I ask to you to look closely at your choices during this election campaign. Ask tough questions of your candidates and leaders. Demand answers that speak to the issues and needs of us all. Demand that the focus be on you.

I look forward to visiting every area of this great place over the next 22 days. I look forward to answering your questions and discussing how our plan will work for you, and how the team I lead can work for you over the next four years.

I ask you Take a Closer Look - Vote Liberal on October 21.