KINGS COUNTY Says NO to 10% Shift in Local Spending: Plus Ivany's Now or Never report on Local Product Support

On March 18, 2014, the "Ten Percent Shift" item I requested was discussed and a motion as follows was defeated 6 to 4 by Kings County's Committee of the Whole.

“That Committee of the Whole recommends Municipal Council support the Ten Percent Shift initiative with a social media campaign aimed at increasing awareness of Kings County residents of the power of shifting spending from non-local to local businesses.”

Against were: Councillors Atwater; Best; Ennis; Hirtle; Macquarrie and Warden Brothers. For were: Bishop; Raven; VanRooyen and Winsor. Councillor Lloyd was absent.

I was shocked this motion was defeated because it carried no significant cost to our municipality. About four years ago council invested cash in a “buy local” radio campaign featuring councillors of that day, notably our Warden and Atwater. As well, council once had a link on its website dedicated to drawing attention to the need to buy local and to assist residents' search for local businesses and products. From my perspective this motion represented a cost-efficient method to reignite interest and help market many excellent Nova Scotia products. It was also noted that our municipal partner, the Town of Kentville, does support CUPE’s 10% shift with a link to its novashift.ca website.

The sticking point for the Municipality of Kings appears to be a fear of making local franchises, such as Tim Hortons, less viable. This was linked by those opposed to the risk that such businesses would retaliate by, for example, pulling support for local sports teams. I’ve obtained the COTW audio tape and intend to have it edited so the debate on the 10% shift can be posted here.

Despite the defeat at council, I encourage you to visit Nova Scotia’s Ten Percent Shift website. Please consider “taking the pledge”. For some that may mean an even more conscious attention to each purchase they make to raise their percentage as high as possible.  For others it may mean the start of a modest shift to local spending. Since the debate at council I have learned that the neighbouring County of Annapolis is setting a 80% local food production target for 2050!

The 10% shift is an initiative of CUPE Nova Scotia, endorsed by the Municipality own local, and referenced in the Ivany report as an initiative with the potential to convert the personal weekly spending of Nova Scotians into “about a billion dollars” investment in Nova Scotia’s economy.

Here are some key references in the Ivany report about “buy local” that drew my attention:

Page 111

…A recent Conference Board report indicates that Nova Scotia ranks 4th among provinces in the share of food produced and consumed within the province.

The increased demand is encouraging local producers to innovate and bring new niche products to market.

… Local foods are a draw for tourists [thus local food and products become an export commodity that people are] “coming here to pick up.”

Page 197

… Our increasingly cosmopolitan product demands can drive innovation leading to new product development for the dual marketplace. The call for support for local producers through consumer selection, whether incentivized or simply encouraged, is not a call for protectionism, complacency, or insularity; it’s a call for investing in ourselves while connecting to the world.

… A 2010 study by the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and the Ecology Action Centre titled Is Nova Scotia Eating Local?, estimates that farmers in Nova Scotia are only benefiting from 13% of food dollars spent in the province. Clearly this is an area of opportunity to increase investment in ourselves. Choosing locally produced food will encourage retailers to supply more of it, which will, in turn, contribute to the viability of our food producing businesses while keeping more money in Nova Scotia.

… In 2012, the Provincial Government amended the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act to include a Food Goal of 20 per cent of the money spent on food by Nova Scotians being spent on locally produced food by 2020.”

Page 216

… The local economy movement, particularly in food production and consumption, is both vibrant and compatible with increasing the elements of our economy that are trade-oriented; For example… Haskapa Production

Local foods are a draw for tourists [thus local food and products become an export commodity that people are] “coming here to pick up.”