February 4, 2025
FREDERICTON – Green Party leader and MLA for Fredericton Lincoln David Coon is calling for stronger government support for small and medium local food producers and processors in the light of the Trump administration’s tariff threats – now put on pause for 30 days. As a first step, Coon is calling on Premier Holt to convene a round-table of small and medium-scale producers, to learn what the provincial government can do to grow this sector.
“It is critical that we strengthen our local food systems, to reduce reliance on imported food, expand farming, and grow our processing sector for local food,” said Coon. “A local economy is a Green economy.”
Coon is calling for a comprehensive food import replacement strategy that will tear down barriers for small and medium farmers and processors to supply local institutions like schools and hospitals and provide better access to retail grocery chains in the Maritimes.
Coon added, “Supporting local food isn’t just an economic necessity if tariffs are imposed—it’s a chance to bring about local food security that will make New Brunswick more self-sufficient. As Greens we have been drawing attention to this issue since I tabled our first local food bill in 2015. The Liberal government of the day voted it down. They must finally act now.”
-30-