Lack of Full-Service Grocery Store in North Woodside - Question Period
MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
When Sobeys closed its North Woodside location in Dartmouth in 2009, residents were left without a full-service grocery. The community would love to have another store in the old Sobeys location, and there are thousands of people who live nearby, but unfortunately they must wait until 2030 for that to happen because when Sobeys sold the old mall, it included a restrictive covenant that prohibits any other grocery stores, convenience stores, drug stores, or medical clinics from setting up for 20 years.
This has left the mall over half empty for a decade. Residents are understandably baffled and upset that our laws allow for such anti-competitive action that so clearly hurt the public good.
I'd like to ask the minister, what will he do to fix these loopholes and help North Woodside get a grocery store again?
HON. DEREK MOMBOURQUETTE » : I'd like to thank the member for the question. I don't have any detail on that current situation. On the surface, listening to the comments, that would be a private contract, but with any matter that comes across my desk
from any member of this House, I will be more than happy to sit down and have a further conversation.
MS. CHENDER « » : Food insecurity is a major challenge in Nova Scotia and in the HRM, and one which we have brought up repeatedly. In 2015, the Halifax Food Policy Alliance reported that Halifax is rated highest in household food insecurity among 33 Canadian cities and the rate of food insecurity has been going up. The main cause of that insecurity is poverty, but a significant contributing factor is the many neighbourhoods that don't have nearby grocery stores.
The Halifax City Council has tried to tackle that issue with the Mobile Food Market initiative, but it would help the city to know that there won't be any restrictive covenants allowed contributing to food deserts.
Will the minister commit to nullifying these types of restrictive covenants and their legality so that the residents of North Woodside don't have to wait another 12 years for a grocery store?
MR. MOMBOURQUETTE « » : I thank the member for the question. I can't get involved with a private matter or a private deal. What I always try to do with the municipal units that I work with across the province is ensure that we create as much flexibility and as much legislative power as possible for them to be flexible in providing the supports and services to the communities they represent.
I make that commitment to that member and all members of this Legislature, that as I move forward in this portfolio we'll do whatever we can to work with our municipal partners to ensure that we can play a part in making their communities and their residents as prosperous as possible.
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