ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- Five things to know about the provincial election in Newfoundland and Labrador as voters go to the polls on Monday.
Liberal momentum: Heading into the campaign, the Liberals were on a roll, winning six straight byelections since June 2013 to erode the Progressive Conservative party's majority.
Government spending: Between 2003 and 2015, government spending increased from $5 billion to $8 billion, but provincial finances have been hurt by the drop in world oil prices. In 2013, about one third of provincial revenue came from the offshore energy sector, but that figure has since dropped to about 20 per cent, leaving a projected $1 billion deficit in the 2015-16 budget. A recent Conference Board of Canada report says depressed oil prices are leading the province into a string of deficits and existing austerity measures won't reverse the trend.
HST increase: The Liberals are promising to kill plans by the Tories to bring in a two percentage point increase in the harmonized sales tax. In its last budget, the government said it would hike the HST from 13 to 15 per cent on Jan. 1.
Liberal economic plan: Conservative Leader Paul Davis has attacked the Liberal economic plan, saying the party hasn't made any concrete promises to boost the economy. NDP Leader Earle McCurdy has also been critical of a Liberal promise to save $400 million, saying the only way they can achieve that goal is by cutting government jobs, which Liberal Leader Dwight Ball denies.
Voter turnout: In the last election, 57.9 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots.
