Liberal leader hopefuls make final pitch to party voters, who'll soon tap the next N.L. premier

Newfoundland and Labrador will have a new premier this weekend when the Liberal Party chooses its next leader.

John Abbott and John Hogan were previously in outgoing Premier Andrew Furey's cabinet, but now they're facing off as they vie for the leadership. The Liberal convention starts Friday, May 2, at the JAG Soundhouse in St. John's.

The leadership race ends on Saturday, and just under 14,000 members of the provincial party registered to vote.

Hogan and Abbott sat down with CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show in separate interviews to make their final case to those members.

This isn't John Abbott's first go at the Liberal Party's top job.

He ran against Furey in 2020 and lost, winning 34 per cent of the vote. 

The St. John's East-Quidi Vidi MHA is hoping for a different outcome, now with five more years of experience in his back pocket.

"I've had, obviously, more visibility and exposure across the province," Abbott said Wednesday. "People know that I work hard and they want that in their premier."

Abbott has criticized his opponent's campaign, describing Hogan's platform as "safe." He says he has three priorities if he becomes the province's next leader. 

First up is a targeted basic income for seniors. 

The province's 2025 budget included $4.75 million for a pilot program for those aged 60 to 64 who receive income support, but Abbott would like to implement the real thing in the next few years.

Abbott's platform also includes affordable housing. The former housing minister said Newfoundland and Labrador needs 10,000 housing units by 2030.

He said he'd like to improve cellular and internet service throughout the province, as well.

"I don't want to be a premier that is carrying that debt and passing it on to future generations," Abbott said after being asked how those projects will be funded given the province's existing debt.