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David Alward's PCs pitch tourism marketing fund

The Labour Day long weekend gave each of the parties a chance to roll out new promises aimed at currying favour with voters.

Progressive Conservative Leader David Alward stopped in scenic St. Andrews on Monday to announce a new tourism marketing fund.

“The people who best understand the growth potential of our communities and regions live in those communities and regions. They work with visitors every day and the Tourism Marketing Fund will give them the power to attract more visitors to their communities,” Alward said in a statement.

The Tory statement did not give many details on how the fund would operate, but Alward said it was “proposed” by members of the tourism industry.

The statement, however, did commit to setting up the necessary legislation to allow for the fund to be created.

The Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick sent a letter to Liberal Leader Brian Gallant on Aug. 6 and said the association felt all political leaders should commit to a provincial marketing levy.

The association recommended a three per cent levy on rooms. The tourism association also sent along a form that could be sent to Elections New Brunswick to ensure the party would meet the provisions laid out by the Taxpayer Protection Act.

“The levy portion of the Tourism Marketing Fund is considered a new tax. Without a referendum or legislated adjustments, this would be a violation of the Taxpayer Protection Act,” the letter said.

The Taxpayer Protection Act, which was passed by the former Bernard Lord government, says any new tax must be approved by a referendum or formally announced during an election campaign.

Liberals pledge minimum wage hike

The Liberals used Labour Day to announce a series of increases to the minimum wage, which currently stands at $10 an hour.

Gallant said he would raise the minimum wage to $10.30 by the end of 2014 and it would hit $11 by the end of 2017.

Starting in 2018, the Liberal leader said the minimum wage would begin rising with inflation.

"These are single moms struggling to feed their families, and students trying to pay for tuition to get ahead," Gallant said in a statement.

"We've got to make life more affordable for those willing to put in an honest day's work."

The minimum wage in Nova Scotia is $10.40 and it is $10.20 in Prince Edward Island. Newfoundland and Labrador’s minimum wage will be increased to $10.25 from $10 on Oct. 1.

NDP pitch first contract law

NDP Leader Dominic Cardy campaigned in Saint John on Monday where he announced first contract legislation.

The law, if it was adopted, would require an employer to sit down and negotiate with a newly formed union.

“We should always be striving to make lives better for workers and working families,” Cardy said in a statement.

The NDP leader also said he would pass a law to control the use of replacement workers during contract disputes.