Premier Tim Houston and Economic Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek hold up local honey during the Nova Scotia Loyal announcement at the Masstown Market. Photo: NS Government
After years of development, Nova Scotia launched its NS Loyal program which aims to incentivize spending on products made locally.
Doing so was one of the promises made by Tim Houston when campaigning for election in 2021.
The announcement was made in Truro where details were unveiled on two new consumer loyalty retail partnerships, an enhanced government procurement policy, and branding to showcase local products.
“I’m incredibly proud to launch Nova Scotia Loyal. This isn’t your typical buy local program – it’s about having a variety of ways to help Nova Scotians buy and support local, while also ensuring we as a government do our part to spend more here at home,” said Economic Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek. “When you see the Nova Scotia Loyal brand, you can be confident that you are contributing directly to a Nova Scotian business and ultimately, helping our local producers grow and succeed.”
Sobeys and the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) were revealed as the partners for the new loyalty partnerships. They will both launch Nova Scotia Loyal promotions as part of their consumer loyalty programs this year. The partnership with Sobeys will also include in-store displays promoting local products and a Nova Scotia Loyal Week once a month when consumers can earn Scene+ points on local products from Sobeys.
The first Nova Scotia Loyal Week begins Thursday, July 25.
Retailers are also now able to apply to have local products marked with NS Loyal branding which the province hopes will increase in recognition in the coming years.
The last component involves changes to the government’s procurement regulations. Changes have been made so that if a Nova Scotian business is within 10 per cent of the leading bid and the other bidder is not a Nova Scotian business, the local company will be awarded the contract.
The province indicated that the change aligns with free-trade regulations in documents released with the announcement.
The total cost of the program to the province is estimated at $6 million.
You can find more details on the NS Loyal program on its website.
Liberals say NS Loyal misses the mark
Nova Scotia’s Liberal leader Zach Churchill however has his doubts about the program and feels it won’t address the key problems it’s supposed to.
“Tim Houston promised to put more money in people’s pockets if they bought local products but instead he gave million of dollars to Sobeys,” said Churchill.
Churchill agrees in principle with a program that incentivizes local purchasing however he feels in it’s current form NS Loyal will rarely accomplish that.
“Nova Scotians shop every day of the week so the decision to have this limited to certain days at Sobeys is baffling,” Churchill. “What about people who shop at independent grocers and farm markets where most local produce is bought?”
