Liberal Leader Andrew Furey started the day in Burin where he announced a Liberal government would address the gap between young people and older adults in the province.
He said the gap can be attributed to various factors such as family mobility, single-family homes, and an increase in senior citizens living in assisted living and long-term care homes.
“Newfoundland and Labrador has an ever-growing population of seniors. Connecting generations benefits children and older adults alike,” Furey stated in a news release.
“It can often help seniors feel inspired to be more active, energizes their mental health, and offers mutual learning opportunities, “We can see that vitality in a grandparent playing with their young grandchild in a park, for example.”
He said the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the negative effects of loneliness and isolation on a person’s mental and physical well-being.
Furey was vague on how his government would go about bridging the gap.
The release stated: “To help address this issue, the Furey government will develop intergenerational programs to increase interaction between young and older Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for their mutual benefit. Funded through the Seniors Social Inclusion Initiative and by partnering with care providers, community groups and educational institutions, the Furey government will consult with stakeholders to develop a resource to help organizations establish much-needed connections between the province’s seniors and youth.”
Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie will be campaigning Saturday in the St. John’s area, visiting the Farmer’s Market with local candidates, and doing some canvassing.
A news release from the PCs claims the short winter election called by Furey disenfranchises rotational workers
Chris Tibbs, the PC candidate for Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans, the voices of rotational workers deserve to be heard in the election campaign.
“Andrew Furey could have scheduled a five-week election campaign, which would have given rotational workers more time to get their special ballots in,” Tibbs said in the news release. “Instead, he decided to make it even harder for rotational workers to exercise their democratic right.”
The release states the PCs are urging rotational workers to do everything they can to ensure they’re able to vote in this critical election.
The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2. For a special ballot, applications must be received by Elections Newfoundland and Labrador by 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. The deadline to drop off a completed special ballot kit at a district office is 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7, and at 4 p.m. on Feb. 9 for ballots mailed to the Elections NL office in St. John’s.
For those who may be out of the province on Election Day can also choose to vote early at district offices across the province can do so after the close of nominations for candidates in the election, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23. Voters can fill out an application, with identification proving name and address. Once process, a voter can vote any day before election day at a district office.
Advance polling day is Saturday, Feb. 6 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Election Day is Feb. 13, with voting open at polling stations across the province from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
NDP Leader Alison Coffin is back in St. John’s to campaign with local candidates after a Friday trip to Labrador where she stated an NDP government would change the Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP) so it would no longer require upfront payment and reimbursement for users. Coffin said they’ve been hearing about a variety of issues from people, including affordability, access to medical care and transportation.
NL Alliance candidates are pressing on in the campaign after Leader Graham Pelley announced on Friday he would be permanently suspending his campaign after suffering a medical emergency and surgery. Pelley remains leader of the party to support other candidates while he focuses on his health and recovery.
