Province Supports Small Businesses in Era of Transformation

The Province is celebrating hard-working local entrepreneurs and businesses during Small Business Week as they navigate the shifting global economy and provide economic leadership in this new era.

This year’s theme recognizes the transformation of the business landscape – from tariffs to internal trade improvements to the use of artificial intelligence – and how small businesses are leading the way in adapting. The Province is working on many fronts to help small businesses meet challenges and succeed.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are some of the most innovative and agile, and that is a tremendous advantage in today’s market,” said Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Growth and Development. “Our government is supporting small businesses, who play an important role in communities across the province, to reach their potential through programs like Nova Scotia Loyal and by making it easier to do business in Nova Scotia.”

Nova Scotia Loyal – the provincial program that makes it easier for shoppers to identify, purchase, and support local products – has seen significant growth over the last year, with more than 1,500 businesses signing up and new retailers joining the program. The Province also assisted businesses in covering the cost of Nova Scotia Loyal labels and reintroduced and expanded the Farmer’s Market Voucher Program to encourage people to buy from local producers.

Some of the other ways the Province is supporting small businesses include:

• The Province has taken a leadership role in removing internal trade barriers between Nova Scotia, other provinces and territories, and the federal government. This will help open new markets for local businesses so they can grow, scale and compete nationally.

• Easing the tax burden, which will save 19,000 small businesses a combined $47 million in 2025-26:

  • the New Small Business Tax Deduction eliminates provincial corporate income tax for new small businesses for the first three years after incorporation
  • small business taxes have been lowered to 1.5 per cent from 2.5 per cent, and the income threshold increased to $700,000 from $500,000,

• This fall, the government passed the Making Business Easier Act to help further the work of cutting red tape, removing regulatory burdens and improving service for Nova Scotians. Since 2021, these efforts have saved businesses more than $21 million.

Small Business Week runs from October 19 to 25 this year.

Quick Facts:

• the Farmers’ Market Voucher Program provides students from pre-primary to Grade 12, post-secondary students and new Nova Scotians with $10 vouchers to help them discover and enjoy local products
• once the Making Business Easier Act is implemented in 2026, it will make improvements to permitting and licensing, including the elimination of several low-risk permits and the introduction of service standards to save time and money
• Nova Scotia earned the overall top score of 9.4 (A grade) from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses for its work removing internal trade barriers and mutually recognizing the goods, services and registered workers of reciprocating regions
• since 2021, the Office of Service Efficiency’s business navigation team has helped more than 10,500 clients, nearly half of them new Canadians, cut through red tape and start or grow their businesses faster

Additional Resources:

BDC Small Business Week:

Nova Scotia Loyal:

More information on the New Small Business Tax Deduction is available at:

News release – New Legislation to Drive Economic Growth, Reduce Red Tape