Economy top topic at Brandon leaders debate

Brian Pallister, Rana Bokhari and Greg Selinger squared off during a debate hosted by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

Brandon was the backdrop for a provincial leaders debate on Thursday.

Jobs, the economy and small businesses were the focus as the party leaders laid out their plans for a crowd of western Manitobans.

Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari pointed to a campaign promise she said will help attract skilled labour and strengthen small businesses.

"We know that if we remove the payroll tax, that could potentially be a stimulus for those organizations to hire more community members into their businesses," Bokhari told the crowd.

NDP leader Greg Selinger said it's about keeping Manitoba an affordable place to live.

"Your cost of daycare in Manitoba - we're going to build another 12, 000 daycare spots. That's very important to working families," said Selinger.

Progressive Conservative leader Brian Pallister repeatedly took aim at Selinger.

"And now he's running saying I'll give you back a nickel.  That's the Nickelback plan, and once you've heard one of their songs you've heard them all."

That comment caught the attention of Bokhari.

"Let's just talk about the relevance of Brian Pallister.  Nickelback.  2016, the guy's talking about Nickelback,” said Bokhari. “Sorry, you're so off the radar."

Selinger later called some of Pallister's comments cynical and mean-spirited.

Manitobans go to the polls April 19.