HALIFAX, NS - Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie is pointing to the conversion of a $40 million repayable loan into a non-repayable loan as evidence that Premier Darrell Dexter blinked yet again in his negotiations with Stern this weekend.

“There is no doubt, this is an even richer deal for Stern than before,” said Baillie. "The richer deal announced late Saturday is contradictory to assurances the NDP had previously provided that they would not provide any additional financial support to Stern, beyond the massive amounts they had already committed."

“Forgiving a $40 million loan is a substantial additional giveaway to Stern," Baillie continued. "And yet we still don’t have any evidence of job guarantees or a sustainable mill at the end of the day.”

Although the Premier hopes for a 12 year payback, Baillie adds it is 'telling' that Stern wouldn’t commit that there will still be a mill, and the jobs that go with it, at the end of that time.

“Perhaps the largest failing of all is that the NDP did not consider using taxpayer resources to rebuild the economy from the ground up: through lower taxes, affordable power rates, and a better school system that prepares our students for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Baillie.

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