Nova Scotia Provincial Election 2013: Where the Parties Stand on Food and Poverty Issues

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Where do the parties stand on food issues?

The Nova Scotia Food Security Network, Nova Scotia Food Policy Council, and Nova Scotia Nutrition Council connected with the leaders of each provincial party requesting that they state a position on a series of community food security issues in Nova Scotia. The responses are in.

We are all pleased to see thoughtful responses to the questionnaire from all four political parties.

All four parties recognized the importance of developing strategies for food security in Nova Scotia, however each suggests a different path to get there. Three (PC, Liberal and Green) of the four parties committed to developing a provincial food strategy, while the third, the NDP, said that food would be addressed in their Green Economic Strategy. As for creating social policy that targets poverty reduction, and supports food security, there were quite varied responses. The PCs suggest that encouraging donations to food banks and eliminating small business tax would be effective; the NDP supports the idea of adjusting the minimum wage to be in line with Low Income Cut-Off threshold set by Statistics Canada, and keeping the HST off home energy and other family essentials. The Liberals focused more on infrastructure supports stating that there needs to be investment in public transit, and more affordable housing, while also improving our existing Employment Support and Income Assistance program. Finally, the Greens suggested that a comprehensive poverty elimination policy needs to be created in conjunction with food security programs such as breakfast programs, community gardens, and better support for food banks.

Visit the Nova Scotia Food Security Network’s website to view the parties responses.

Where do the parties stand on poverty issues?

The Community Society to End Poverty in Nova Scotia (CSEP-NS) connected with the leaders of each provincial party requesting that they state a position on a series of poverty issues in Nova Scotia. The CSEP-NS raises awareness of poverty issues and urges all levels of government and sectors of society to act to end poverty in Nova Scotia.

Visit the CSEP-NS website to view the parties responses on poverty issues.