Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservatives say they will bring back a refundable film tax credit if elected May 30.

Leader Jamie Baillie says the Tories will spend $34 million to revive it.

"This is a projection of the potential we think exists in the industry," he said. "We aren't just aiming to grab what we had and replace it; we want to see growth in the film industry because we know the government actually makes money from a thriving industry."

Baillie says his party will work to restore the film and TV industry that was set back when the Liberals axed the tax two years ago. He says the industry needs a stable tax credit model.

Baillie says it will be predictable and will win back the confidence of the film industry. He didn't say what percentage of labour costs would be covered by his plan but said it would be in the range of the former film tax credit.

Last week, the provincial NDP made a similar campaign pledge to reinstate the film tax credit.

Film industry has rebounded 'significantly'

Erika Beatty, executive director of Screen Nova Scotia, said a PriceWaterhouseCoopers study it commissioned estimated the industry contributed $180 million to the provincial GDP in 2014, which she said was a banner year for productions.

Beatty said in the year following the removal of the tax credit, the production volume dropped to about half that number, but subsequently rebounded "significantly" to about 75 per cent of that figure in 2016.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil is taking his campaign to Cape Breton today for meetings with seniors, while NDP Leader Gary Burrill made an announcement on nursing home beds in Halifax. Baillie is also staying close to the Halifax area.