Liberals launch campaign against mega-project

The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador will use social media to campaign against the proposed Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project.

The announcement was made at the party's convention in St. John's on Saturday.

Leader Yvonne Jones doesn't agree with the current proposal, saying it will mean higher electricity rates for local consumers with negligible benefits.

"We're trying to tell people of the province what this deal is really all about and the deal itself is really about seeing our electricity rates doubling in this province while others are getting subsidies and rebates," said Jones.

She pledged the Liberals would negotiate a better deal.

The party has launched a campaign called 'Muskrat Fails' and will use a website, Facebook and Twitter to get the message out, along with a mascot named Winston the Water Drop.

The multi-billion dollar Muskrat Falls project would see hydro power transmitted from the site in Labrador to the island of Newfoundland and then to Nova Scotia.

During the recent federal election, the three main political parties all pledged to support a federal loan guarantee for the project.