Liberals launch provincial campaign ahead of writ drop

Provincial Liberal Leader Dwight Ball echoedJustin Trudeauat his party's official campaign launch on Monday, asking voters to make their choice based on hope instead of fear.

• Newfoundland and Labrador Votes: Complete coverage
• Liberal campaign bus promises "A stronger tomorrow"

"Paul Davis and his conservative government have adopted Stephen Harper'spolitics of fear.Because Paul Davis wants you to be afraid and he'll say anything necessary in the next 28 days to do that. But the only person you should be afraid of is Paul Davis," Ball said to a crowd of supporters at the Holiday Inn.

"People of our province want politics of hope, they want politics of change, and that, Mr. Davis, is what is behind the big reddoor."

The Liberal Party of Newfoundland Labrador launcheditsofficial campaign, branded with the slogan "a stronger tomorrow,"even though Premier Paul Davis has not yet evendropped the writ.

Early launch about 'getting to the people'

Ball said his party's early launchhas nothing to do with getting around party spending restrictions.

"There's only one thing that this is to get around: it's to get around this province," Ball told reporters.

"It's got nothing to do with the finances of this campaign at all, it's about getting to the people of this province."

Ball walked intoa song written specially for the campaign by Darrell Power, a former memberof Great Big Sea, called A Stronger Tomorrow.

He ended his speech by showinga series of new Liberal campaign ads.

"It's the day that we finally shake off those Tory blues and take the road ahead with a stronger tomorrow,"Ball tolda crowd of supporters at the Holiday Inn.

Ball 'sharpening the axe' to reverse HST hikes

Ball also touched on several tenets of theLiberal platform during the launch, including replacing the Waterford Hospital, home assessments for seniors,increasing the early learning and child care supplement, and clawing back the two per cent HST hike government announced in April.

"That's what we're sharpening our axe for, and nothing else," said Ball.

"We are sharpening that axe to cut the HST and put money back in the pockets of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians."

While there's no word on the official date of the writ drop for the Nov. 30-general election, it's expected to happen some time this week.

Despite the lack of an official election campaign, members from all three parties have been out campaigning and hoisting signs in their districts.

Premier Paul Davis made two separate speeches in late October that spelled out his re-election pitch to the province.

Davis, Ball and NDP Leader Earle McCurdy also participated in several debates, the first as early as June.

The latest debate will take place Monday nightin St. John's at the LSPU Hallhosted by the St. John's Status of Women Council.

CBC News will live steam the debate on Radio One and online, from 8 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. NT.