Tim Houston’s party is focused on healthcare and the economy
Leading up to the Nova Scotia election on Nov. 26, Farms.com is highlighting what each party’s platform lays out in terms of agriculture and rural issues.
Premier Tim Houston and the Conservatives are focused on healthcare, the economy and affordability, the party’s platform indicates.
There is no mention of the words “agriculture,” “farmer,” or “rural.”
But other promises in the platform could support the ag community.
In the section about the economy, for example, the Conservatives commit to decreasing the small business tax rate from 2.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent.
A re-elected Conservative government would also increase the small business threshold from $500,000 to $700,000.
Tim Houston’s party has supported the ag community through past measures.
Like in November 2023 when the government announced a pilot project to bring fresh food carts to schools to promote locally grown products and support farmers.
The Nova Scotia NDP platform is also missing concrete mentions of support for agriculture.
The words “agriculture” and “rural” both appear once in the platform, while the word “farmer” is absent.
But, like the Conservatives, Claudia Chender’s party has promises the ag industry could benefit from.
The party promises the same small business tax cut as the Conservatives, from 2.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent.
From left: Premier Tim Houston, Green Party Leader Anthony Edmonds, and NDP Leader Claudia Chender.
Another commitment includes cutting the gas tax, which the NDP commits to keeping in place “while inflation is high.” The party also promises to remove the tax from the purchase and installation of heat pumps.
In addition, an NDP government would create a buy local program to support local businesses.
The Green Party’s platform does have some specific mentions of agriculture.
In the document’s section about food security, Anthony Edmonds’s party promises to increase investments and research into products like biopesticides, create incentives for farmers to implement regenerative ag practices, and collaborating with farmers to help them sell products in local retail markets.
The platform also includes an item not directly related to ag but could affect the sector.
A Green government in Nova Scotia would reduce the overtime requirement for workers from 48 to 42.
Farms.com previously covered the Nova Scotia Liberal platform.