Name: Dwight Ball
Age: Not provided
Party affiliation (provincial and federal): Liberal
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (709) 635-0132
Twitter: @DwightBallNL
Facebook: facebook.com/dwight.ball.71
Q. Do you believe there is more that can be done to combat climate change in Newfoundland and Labrador? Explain.
Yes, which is why our Liberal government launched our five year climate change action plan in March of this year. We launched that plan because we know there is no Planet B.
Our comprehensive plan takes into account our economic, social and fiscal realities, and includes creating jobs in an emerging green economy.
Our action plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions; stimulate clean innovation and growth; and build resilience to climate change impacts.
Q. What is your primary legislative priority should you be (re)elected?
A. We plan to bring forward a lot of important legislation on a lot of different topics, but for me, I think it would be Clare’s Law legislation, which is aimed at reducing domestic violence.
The law will help inform people about their partners, so they can know if they are in an intimate relationship with someone who has a history of violence. The law would allow police forces to disclose a person's criminal history to that person's partner in some cases.
It is vital that we stop violence against women, and this legislation is a step in the right direction.
Q. With the death rate exceeding the birth rate, outmigration remaining prominent, and an aging population, what is your top priority to address demographic challenges in N.L.?
A. Our party is committed to making Newfoundland and Labrador an ideal place for residents to live, work, and raise a family for residents. That includes doing everything from enhancing the availability of childcare spaces; to supporting new jobs in aquaculture, technology, mining, oil and gas, tourism, and other industries; to improving healthcare and education.
We are also encouraging increased immigration, as we believe it is important to build a more economically, socially and culturally vibrant province that attracts and retains skilled immigrants. By increasing immigration, we build on the skills, fresh perspectives and global connections of immigrants and their families; we grow our economy; and we support our communities. We are making it easier for immigrant entrepreneurs to come to our province and start businesses that employ people. It also includes community-based supports to help immigrants settle and integrate in our communities.
Since 2017, the number of individuals supported toward permanent residency by the Provincial Government has increased by over 25 per cent. Preliminary data for 2018 indicates 1,525 individuals became permanent residents in Newfoundland and Labrador, representing 90 per cent of the The Way Forward target of welcoming 1,700 newcomers annually by 2022. We are ahead of schedule. We have a plan in place and it is working.
We are also undertaking initiatives to promote healthy active play for children, and we are promoting safer communities through legislation and other initiatives. This promotes health and well-being within welcoming communities.
In all of these ways we are addressing our demographic challenges, and I look forward to building on this work in the years to come.
Q. Are changes needed to the existing tax system in Newfoundland and Labrador? If so, what specifically should change?
A. Our government had to put measures in place in 2016 to address the worst fiscal situation in the province’s history – a situation created by the prior PC administration, which hid the details from the opposition and the public. We put those measures in place with a commitment to remove taxes as we improved the provinces finances and outlook, and we have done just that.
We continue to identify potential changes to the tax mix that could improve our system’s competitiveness and provide significant relief, and with each budget we try to act on them.
With Budget 2019, we chose to remove the auto insurance tax, as that will have a positive impact on the greatest number of people. In addition, the deficit reduction levy, which was always stated to be a temporary initiative, will be gone this year. A Liberal government will continue to look for more opportunities in the years to come.
We will also deliver on our plan to protect residents from the cost impacts of Muskrat Falls. With our plan, residents’ pocketbooks will not be impacted by increases to electricity rates or taxes to cover the cost of the project. We are the only party to deliver a credible plan to protect residents from the costs of Muskrat Falls.
Q. Do you have any conflicts of interest that would need to be addressed upon (re)entering the House of Assembly?
A. No I do not. My blind trust is in place.
