NDP policy enters the mainstream

Opposition leader Darrell Dexter and his NDP caucus have been showing genuine leadership in looking for ways to help alleviate the crisis facing our agriculture industry.

Canned vegetables took a hit a couple of years ago and now the pork and much of the poultry sectors are in jeopardy.

Dexter and agriculture critic Hants East MLA John MacDonell were in the Valley last week to promote their party’s “Buy Nova Scotia” program aimed at increasing local market share for Nova Scotia agricultural and other products.

The proposal includes a modestly-priced – $250,000 – program to advertise what is produced here in order to educate the public and to identify the products in the marketplace and, of course, a buy Nova Scotia-produced food policy for provincial institutions, including government-owned hotels.

The governing Tories had come up with similar ideas over the past eight years or so, but for one reason or other -- including inter-provincial trade agreements -- failed to come through. They have also dropped the ball in other ways in the current agriculture crisis.

Noting that the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture estimates that less than 50 per cent of what we eat in the province is produced here, Dexter says it doesn’t make good economic sense to be importing more than half our food. This is something to which we all can agree.

Once having – and often deserving – the perception they were an urban protest splinter party with a connection to Cape Breton labour, the Nova Scotia NDP has become a solid political party with down-to-earth, sensible and achievable policies and principles. In recent years – and as the Official Opposition – the NDP has advocated programs beneficial to families under the umbrella of a balanced budget.

Dexter and his caucus have come to the fore for Nova Scotians, including Nova Scotia business. Agriculture in this province is comprised of a network of small holders – essentially the epitome of small businesses. Even many major food processors in the province are locally owned co-operatives.

As well, the party has come more and more to represent the rural constituency. Some 40 per cent of the NDP caucus represents rural ridings.

Dexter has said that creating and maintaining jobs in rural Nova Scotia is essential in keeping families and services in those areas. Maybe the time will come – perhaps soon – when the NDP can put their policies and principles into action in their own government.

However, Dexter says that’s up to the people. Until then, all he can hope for is the government to adopt NDP ideas that improve the lives of Nova Scotians and, in this immediate circumstance, the agriculture community and consumers.