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Nova ScotiaBill 259First Reading

Bill 259: Clear Grocery Pricing Act

Sponsor: Iain RankinIntroduced September 8, 2026Checked September 9, 2026
Read the official textOfficial version — Nova Scotia House of Assembly

What this bill does

This Nova Scotia bill requires grocery merchants to clearly display regular prices alongside sale prices, show both loyalty-member and non-member prices side by side, allow consumers to buy multi-buy promotional items at the pro-rated unit price, and bans the use of personal data to set individualized prices (surveillance pricing). It also amends the provincial Sales Tax Act to exempt food products sold at grocery stores.

Plain-language summary by Legisail — not legal advice.

Business impact

TaxCompliance
This bill directly affects grocery retailers and food merchants in Nova Scotia — think supermarkets, discount food stores, and specialty food shops that sell packaged goods, produce, or beverages for people to take home. If you run a store with weekly flyers, loyalty card programs, or bundle deals (like '2 for $5'), you'll need to update your shelf labels, point-of-sale displays, and promotional signage to show both the regular price and the sale price clearly, and ensure loyalty pricing is not displayed in larger print than the standard price. Merchants who use customer data — purchase history, location, browsing habits — to offer personalized pricing will have to stop that practice entirely, even if customers have consented. The rules apply whether you're a small independent grocer or a large chain, though larger retailers with sophisticated digital pricing systems or data-driven loyalty platforms will likely face the most significant operational changes.

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Where this bill is

First ReadingSeptember 8, 2026
Next: Second Reading debate

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At a glance

Bill number
NS-259
Type
Private Member's Public
Jurisdiction
Nova Scotia
Session
65-1
Official record