Farmers market program feeding low-income Nova Scotians waits on government money

The organizer of a farmers market program that hands out coupons or “food bucks” to low-income earners in Nova Scotia says the group is waiting on money from the province, money he expected before now.

Justin Cantafio, executive director of Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia, says demand for the “Nourishing Communities” program has grown since its launch in 2019 and is now higher than ever.

“Last year, we gave out almost $400,000 in alternative currency to over 580 households across the province and redemption was 100 per cent,” said Cantafio.

The program is fully funded by the province, but Cantafio says he was under the impression a program called the “Nova Scotia Food and Beverage Strategy” would be announced — increasing his program’s funding — but that hasn’t happened yet.

“It's unfortunately several months late,” said Cantafio, in a recent interview with CTV News.

However, the province says the new program is not delayed, but instead “due out this year,” spokesperson Susan Mader Zinck wrote in an email to CTV News.

While Cantafio waits for the money to arrive, he says they may have to cut 25 per cent of the households they serve.

“It’s absolutely devastating to have to reduce program participants for the first time ever when we were anticipating growing the program this year,” said Cantafio.

Pat Dunn, Nova Scotia’s minister of communities, culture, tourism and heritage, acknowledges his department received a letter in April requesting more funding.

“Those discussions are still happening as we speak,” said Dunn.

Zinck noted the province is giving the program $422,400 this fiscal year, the same as the year before.