BILL NO. 163
(as introduced)
1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
4 Charles III, 2025
Private Member's Public Bill
Local Grocery Infrastructure Fund Act
The Honourable Iain Rankin
Timberlea–Prospect
First Reading: October 1, 2025
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act to Establish
the Local Grocery Infrastructure Fund
1 This Act may be cited as the Local Grocery Infrastructure Fund Act.
"Fund" means the Local Grocery Infrastructure Fund established by Section 3;
"Minister" means the Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage;
"local grocery store" means a retail food business that
(a) is independently owned and operated by residents of the Province;
(b) has no more than five retail locations; and
(c) derives the majority of its sales from groceries intended for household consumption.
3 (1) The Local Grocery Infrastructure Fund is established.
(2) The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial support for
(a) the expansion, renovation or upgrade of retail locations of local grocery stores;
(b) the purchase and installation of equipment to improve energy efficiency, refrigeration and food storage in retail locations of local grocery stores;
(c) accessibility improvements for customers with disabilities shopping at retail locations of local grocery stores; and
(d) such other initiatives as may be prescribed by the regulations to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of local grocery stores in the Province.
(3) The Fund consists of money appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of this Act.
(4) The Fund is under the administration and control of the Minister.
4 Upon application by a local grocery store, money may be paid out of the Fund for the purpose set out in subsection 3(2), subject to any eligibility criteria prescribed by the regulations.
5 Subject to Section 8, the Minister may enter into agreements with local grocery stores, municipalities, co-operatives or other bodies for the administration of funding under this Act.
6 The Minister shall, within six months after the end of each fiscal year, prepare a report on the administration of the Fund, including details of disbursements made during that year, and table the report in the House of Assembly if the Assembly is then sitting or, where it is not then sitting, file it with the Clerk of the Assembly.
7 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations
(a) prescribing eligibility criteria for applicants to the Fund;
(b) respecting the application process and terms of funding agreements;
(c) respecting the terms of agreements for the administration of funding under this Act;
(d) establishing reporting and accountability requirements for recipients of money paid out of the Fund;
(e) respecting any matter the Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out effectively the intent and purpose of this Act.
(2) The exercise by the Governor in Council of the authority contained in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.
8 The money required for the purpose of this Act must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.