HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservative leader says he would stop corporate bailouts in one of his first promises of the provincial election campaign.

Jamie Baillie says the province has a long history of loaning money to failed businesses, such as furniture maker Scanwood.

The province loaned Scanwood $4.6-million in 2010 and the company was later placed in receivership, which Baillie says is an example of Premier Darrell Dexter's failed policies.

Baillie says the NDP hands out roughly $89 million annually to businesses and that money would be better spent reducing the harmonized sales tax.

Dexter called the election Saturday, telling voters the choice is between a return to the Liberals or continuing to build a different future under the NDP.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil is expected to make breaking Nova Scotia Power's monopoly a main theme during today's events in the Halifax area.