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On October 23, the government released its five-year housing plan - Our Homes, Action for Housing. It represents a projected $1-billion investment and highlights targets to create the conditions for more than 40,000 new housing units from one end of the province to the other.

The plan is informed by a province-wide housing needs assessment report, also released today, which captures feedback from 21,000 Nova Scotians, 115 employers and more than 100 organizations.

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) released its second-quarter financial results on October 24.

Total sales from July 3 to October 1 were up 1.2 per cent to $242.1 million, with an increase in both beverage alcohol and cannabis compared with the same time last year. Earnings increased 0.6 per cent to $83.3 million.

Second-quarter results also show an increase in most sales channels, with a 2.7 per cent increase in sales to bars, restaurants and pubs, a 1.7 per cent increase in NSLC retail stores and a 0.1 per cent increase in independently owned agency stores.

Sales growth of Nova Scotia beverage alcohol products was led by locally produced beer, with a 5.1 per cent increase to $9.1 million. Cannabis led the growth of Nova Scotia products overall, with a 19.6 per cent increase to $10.3 million.

Other local product sales results include: Ready-to-drink products - down 0.7 per cent to $11.2 million; Wine - down 4.9 per cent to $5.2 million and Spirits - down 5.1 per cent to $3.3 million.

The Province wants input from Nova Scotians on improving the workers' compensation system and preventing harassment in the workplace. The Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia provides workplace injury insurance to Nova Scotia employers and employees. The compensation system was last reviewed in 2002, and the Province recognizes that Nova Scotia lags behind other jurisdictions in areas such as workers' access to coverage, employer assessment rates and benefits.

Nova Scotians can share their input on both the workers' compensation system and harassment in the workplace at in-person and virtual sessions and through an online survey and written submissions. In-person sessions took place in 10 communities across the province from November 14^th to November 29, Halifax and November 30, Dartmouth.

Virtual sessions were held in November and as well as December 1, 6 and 8.

The Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board (NSARB) has rejected the Ecology Action Centre’s (EAC) bid for intervenor status in the next fish farm expansion hearing at Liverpool Bay, scheduled for Feb. 5-9, 2024.

The hearing will determine whether the multi-billion-dollar Cooke Seafood empire will be allowed to expand its salmon farming operations in Liverpool Bay through its Nova Scotia subsidiary, Kelly Cove Salmon. If approved, the development would more than quadruple the number of salmon produced in the waters around Liverpool from about 400,000 today to 1.8 million. 

The Province is taking action to make sure all Nova Scotians have access to cellular service, no matter where they live or travel. The government is investing $47.3 million to start the new Cellular for Nova Scotia Program, which will expand telecommunications infrastructure and communications networks throughout the province.

Build Nova Scotia will lead the program, which will include a comprehensive strategy to improve cell coverage for both civic addresses and roads. The strategy will involve partners across the telecommunications industry as well as other levels of government.

Phase 1 of the program will improve cell coverage in the short term using existing infrastructure. A request for proposal for innovative and cost-effective solutions will be issued October 26.

In Phase 2, the aim will be closing remaining gaps in coverage with new infrastructure.

The Province will also invest $3.3 million to build four new trunked mobile radio towers to expand radio coverage for first responders in West Bay Road/Marble Mountain and Pleasant Bay in Inverness County; Framboise, Richmond County; and Greenfield, Queens County.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is giving $1.5 million through its FCC AgriSpirit Fund to 86 community groups across Canada to support rural capital projects.

This year, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund awarded between $5,000 and $25,000 to various community improvement initiatives that enrich the lives of residents in cities, towns or Indigenous communities with fewer than 150,000 people.

Over the past 20 years, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund has supported 1,615 projects, an investment of $21 million.

The next application period opens in the spring of 2024. Registered charities, non-profit groups, municipalities and First Nations, Métis or Inuit governments/communities interested in funding can visit www.fccagrispiritfund.ca for eligibility requirements, to apply online and view past projects.

In the Atlantic provinces, six projects are receiving $117,000 in funding. The only project in Nova Scotia to received funding is: Nova Scotia Mobile Food Market Society (NS), Dartmouth will receive $16.000 to purchase a refrigerated trailer to accommodate large-scale refrigeration and deliver refrigerated produce to Halifax region communities.

The 2023 Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Conference and Annual General Meeting took place at the Best Western Glengarry, Truro on Nov. 16^th and 17^th with a good attendance from producers and those with an interest in the industry.

WBPANS President David Harrison welcomed everyone to the meeting, noting 2023 has been a challenging year with extreme weather events, higher input costs, reduced yields and a lower farm gate price. "Despite the challenges and pain, we are all feeling right now, there is still some optimism to be had. We have a great product, that people want, and we have partners who see the value in our industry. We will be working hard to try and improve margins in 2024," said David as he wrapped up his president’s report.

Wild blueberry producers were disappointed to only receive 35 cents/lb for their crop this year. The price fluctuates on a commodity market and in the last twenty years farm gate price has ranged from over $1/lb in 2006/2007 to a low of .27/lb in 2017. Rising input costs have most producers looking at significant losses on their 2023 crop, compounded by a lower-than-normal yield due to the polar vortex event and wet summer.

The polar vortex event took place in February 2023 and effected many fruit crops. Weather stations recorded temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius, with wind chills of minus forty to minus fifty. Horticulture Nova Scotia is working together with the NS Department of Agriculture in assessing and providing program support for impacted producers. The details of exactly what the program of support will be are yet to be determined. For more information or to apply, please email Patricia Bishop at patricia@horticulturens.ca or text/call: 902.403.7218.

Hugh Lyu, Wild Blueberry Extension at Perennia Food & Agriculture, expects the total 2023 Wild Blueberry Crop to be around 292 million pounds, down from 344 million pounds in 2022. Nova Scotia produced 38 million, down from 57 million in 2022, but close to the five-year average of 44 million pounds.

Dr. Willy Kalt presented some interesting information on the funding of wild blueberry research, noting there have been over 430 peer-reviewed scientific publications related to blueberries and human health. The anthocyanin pigments, found abundantly in wild blueberries, are the focus of many studies in health benefits including heart health, brain health, regulation of blood sugar, gut health and an overall whole body metabolic health…all good reasons to incorporate a daily serving of wild blueberries into a healthy diet.

Nova Scotia’s Agriculture Minister, the Honorable Greg Morrow stopped by the WBPANS meeting and commended producers on their hard work and dedication they bring to agriculture. He noted the importance of the industry to Nova Scotia’s overall economy. "The wild blueberry sector is vital to our province’s economy, to our rural communities and to our province’s long term food security. Wild blueberries are Nova Scotia’s largest fruit crop. Last year roughly 57 million pounds of wild blueberries were harvested, and more than 600 producers managed more than 38,000 acres," said the Minister. "Wild blueberries were the number one agri-food export this year at more than 167 million dollars."

Minister Morrow talked about expanding markets in Japan, South Korea, Japan and the US where free-trade agreements already exist. "Our department looks forward to working with the Wild Producer’s Association of Nova Scotia and engaging with our industry partners to strengthen the demand and price stability for your wild blueberries in key international markets."

WBPANS hired Stiletto Consulting to complete an Economic Impact Study of the Wild Blueberry Industry to the Nova Scotia Economy. The 5 Year Average Economic Impacts for 2022 reported a GDP of $91.5 million for wild blueberries, with over 1800 jobs, a labour income of $55.9 million, tax base of $19.2 million and in house spending of $48.4 million. The social benefits of the industry were reported to include jobs for seasonal workers, promoting health and fighting disease, sustaining rural communities, boosting tourism, protecting pollinators and preserving and growing NS Heritage. In conclusion, the report states, "The industry contributes substantially to Nova Scotia as a whole, and especially to its rural communities, helping to sustain smaller communities and their way of life by generating significant economic activity."

Carolyn Van Den Heuvel, NS Federation of Agriculture reported there are 2000 registered farms in NS, 720,045 acres farmed and 49,000 acres of farmland protected by dykes.

Alice Pugsley, Chair of the WBPANS Promotions Committee presented an overview of promotional activities over the last year. There are now three QR code cards to access Health Benefits, Recipes and Where to Buy Fresh/Frozen Wild Blueberries. Colorful new wild blueberry reusable shopping bags are now available. WBPANS had a booth at the April Saltscapes Expo, sponsored the Bluenose Marathon, Heartland Tour and Not Since Moses Run, Promoted Wild Blueberry Week with The Kilted Chef Alain Bosse in August, sponsored the Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival, appeared on CTV’s What’s For Dinner on Sept. 20^th and had a cooking spot at the Fall Saltscapes Expo.

Retiring Directors Jeff Orr, who has been on the board for 15 years and Chair of the WBPANS Research Committee for the last 4 Years and Peter Van Dyk, also a valued member of the Board for numerous years were presented with a gift of appreciation by WBPANS Executed Director Peter Burgess.

A Production Technical Session was held on Friday, Nov. 17^th with many interesting presentations that will be made available at https://nswildblueberries.com/presentations/