NDP and Liberals put affordability in focus ahead of house sitting

NDP leader Claudia Chender is seen at a news conference at Province House in Halifax Tuesday September 2, 2026. TIM KROCHAK PHOTO PHOTO BY TIM KROCHAK /The Chronicle Herald Nova Scotia’s opposition parties have shared their agendas for the upcoming session of the legislature that starts Sept. 8. At Province House, affordability was the theme for both parties, with the NDP homing in on renter protections and women’s health while the Liberals aimed to tackle grocery costs. Liberals looking to cut costs in grocery carts Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin said at a news conference Wednesday that affordability will be his party’s “singular focus.” “I want to highlight a suite of measures focused on making groceries more affordable and giving Nova Scotians more choice,” Rankin said. MLA Iain Rankin, the interim leader of the Nova Scotia Liberals, answers questions about the party’s grocery affordability plan at Province House on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Ryan Taplin – The Chronicle Herald PHOTO BY RYAN TAPLIN /The Chronicle Herald He said the party plans to introduce legislation to remove provincial sales tax from all food sold at grocery stores. “Pre-made salads, granola bars, juice boxes, all are staples for busy families facing unnecessary, confusing tax,” Rankin said. “Removing the provincial portion of HST from all food would be a relatively small cost to the government, but it would make a real difference for families at the checkout.” He estimated removing the tax would cost the province around $30 million per year. The Liberals also are looking to ban stores from pricing goods using customer data and address property rules that have prevented competition, arguing that too much of the food supply is controlled by a small number of major retailers. The party will also introduce funding proposals to independent grocery stores to help them open or expand. Rankin did not provide a specific value for that funding. Read More Federal government commits $14.1 million to Nova Scotia businesses affected by tariff war with U.S. Houston pitches natural resource, energy development to pay for rising social programming costs NDP: Improved women’s health and capping rents Official Opposition and NDP Leader Claudia Chender said her party plans to address affordability of women’s health care, which she said has been neglected. “People are fed up. For so many, the results they voted for just aren’t there,” Chender said. She said the party will be…