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Nova Scotia leaders begin second day of campaign for May 30 election

N.S. election campaign enters second day

HALIFAX — It is the first full day of the Nova Scotia election campaign.

Premier Stephen McNeil called an election on Sunday, defending his government's tough choices as the opposition parties attempted to frame the May 30 vote as a referendum on the Liberals' penny-pinching term.

All three parties leaders were in Halifax for the campaign's launch, including the NDP's Gary Burrill who's trying to win a seat in Halifax-Chebucto from Liberal backbencher Joachim Stroink.

Burrill, who plans to make a health-care announcement in Halifax today, said an NDP government would tackle issues like hunger, access to education and hospital overcrowding, rather than prioritize a balanced budget.

Tory Leader Jamie Baillie pitched himself as a sunny alternative to four years of Liberal austerity, which he said has hurt rural communities, allowed infrastructure to crumble and sent doctors and young people away in "droves."

He planned on marking national doctor's day at an event in Halifax before heading to the south shore to campaign.

At dissolution, the Liberals held 34 seats in the 51-seat legislature, the Progressive Conservatives had 10 and the NDP 5, while there was one Independent and one vacancy.

The Canadian Press