FREDERICTON - David Alward says he will keep all his campaign promises while still addressing New Brunswick's financial woes, but a political scientist says the premier-designate is facing a difficult balancing act.
The Conservative leader told a news conference on Tuesday he will set priorities to fulfil the platform, despite skepticism from observers who questioned during the province's 32-day election campaign how Alward and Liberal Premier Shawn Graham would pay for their promises.
"Our platform is a contract with the people of New Brunswick," Alward said. "Ultimately the people of New Brunswick will judge us on whether or not we have kept our commitments."
The Conservatives captured 42 of the legislature's 55 seats in a commanding election victory over Graham's Liberal party, which won 13 seats and became the first government in the province to only last a single term.
Don Desserud, a political scientist at the University of New Brunswick, said with a provincial debt of $8.4 billion and a projected deficit of about $750 million, Alward will have to find some compromise.
"There will have to be a redistribution of tax rates, whether that's an increase in the HST or something else," Desserud said. "They will have to bring in more revenue, and a reduction in government programs so they're spending less."
Alward said he will swear-in a new and smaller cabinet on Oct. 12, and appoint an energy commission just days later. He has promised to freeze power rates for three years and enlist the commission to develop a 10-year energy policy.
NB Power is faced with a large debt, and the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear power station is mired in technical problems -- running 2 1/2 years behind schedule and well over budget.
The Liberal government had begun talks about a possible second reactor to be built in the province. Alward wasn't saying Tuesday whether those talks would continue once he becomes premier.
"I'm more concerned with seeing Point Lepreau up and running in February 2012, and other things will take care of themselves after," Alward said.
Other promises include a permanent freeze on property tax assessments for seniors who own their own homes, at least a three per cent annual increase in the Health Department budget, and balanced budgets in four years. Alward has pledged to cancel a planned cut in the corporate tax rate and future tax reductions for the richest 1,300 New Brunswickers.
The platform also calls for reducing the size of the civil service.
Alward said his party was responsible with its promises.
"It's not going to be easy," he said. "People realize that."
The Graham government was criticized for plowing ahead with initiatives, such as the ill-fated deal to sell NB Power, without adequately consulting New Brunswickers.
Alward, on the other hand, has promised numerous commissions, task forces, summits and the creation of a Premier's Citizen Engagement Unit.
Desserud said the Tories can't spend too much time in consultations or they could suffer the same fate as the Liberals.
"They want to be careful and ensure they get it right, but I think they're dealing with a grumpy electorate that is quite prepared to kick governments out after just one term -- which they had never done before -- and as a consequence would be quite prepared to kick out another government after just one term," Desserud said.
