Food Security Secretariat Created

Summary#

This bill creates a new Agriculture and Food Security Secretariat for Nova Scotia. Its goal is to coordinate government work on food, boost local food production, and make healthy food more affordable and accessible.

• Creates a cross-government Secretariat led by the Deputy Premier.
• Brings together representatives from nine departments, with the option to add others.
• Tasks the group with writing a provincial food strategy to increase local production, lower barriers to access, and improve affordability.
• Directs the group to consider many areas, including farmland protection, climate change, labour and migrant worker issues, food processing and distribution, school and child-care food, public institution purchasing, food safety, organics, pesticides, bees, loans, marketing, animal welfare, liquor production, and food truck rules.
• Requires a public report on activities within six months of starting and every year after.

What it means for you#

• Families and individuals

  • You may see a clearer provincial plan on food prices, access to healthy food, and local food.
  • School and child-care food programs may get more attention in planning.
  • Annual public reports will make it easier to track progress.
  • The bill itself does not create new benefits or payments.

• Farmers and farm workers

  • Expect more coordinated policies on land access, getting started in farming, loans, and training.
  • Labour issues, including fairness for migrant workers, are named as priorities.
  • The strategy may address inspection and grading, organic farming, bee health, and climate risks to crops.
  • No new funding or rules are set here; those would come later if government acts on the strategy.

• Food businesses (processors, distributors, retailers, food trucks)

  • The Secretariat will look at bottlenecks in processing and distribution.
  • Public institutions may be encouraged to buy more local food, which could grow demand.
  • Municipal rules for mobile canteens and vending are on the list to review and better align.

• Schools, child-care, and public institutions (hospitals, universities, long-term care)

  • You may see guidance or targets for healthier, local menu options and purchasing.
  • Details would depend on future policies that follow this strategy.

• Municipal governments

  • Can expect more coordination on farmland protection, food vending rules, and local food initiatives.

• Everyone

  • More “whole-of-government” coordination on food security, with yearly public updates on actions and results.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• A single, high-level team will reduce duplication across departments and speed up action on food security.
• A province-wide food strategy can boost local farms, keep more food dollars in the community, and improve resilience.
• Coordinated work on affordability, school meals, and public purchasing can help more people access healthy food.
• Naming climate change, organics, bees, and pesticides ensures the strategy protects long-term food supply.
• Including labour and migrant worker justice aims to make the food system fairer for workers.
• Annual public reports add transparency and keep pressure on government to deliver.

Opponents' View#

• Creates another layer of bureaucracy without guaranteeing direct help for households facing high food prices.
• Overlaps with existing departments and committees; coordination could be done within current structures.
• The bill sets broad goals but no clear targets, timelines, or dedicated funding.
• A very wide scope may dilute focus and make it harder to deliver concrete results.
• Future actions on pesticides, vending, or purchasing rules could raise costs for farmers, businesses, or municipalities.