The Nova Scotia government plans to eliminate the long-standing 80/20 rule that guaranteed most trucking work on provincial highway projects went to local operators — a move drawing sharp criticism from small businesses and opposition leaders.
Since the early 1990s, the rule required that 80 per cent of trucking services for capital highway contracts be provided by members of the Truckers Association of Nova Scotia (TANS), with the remaining 20 per cent supplied by the contractor.
The system was designed to protect small, independent operators and ensure fair access to government work.
Starting in 2026, the province says those protections will be lifted.
A spokesperson for Public Works explained in a statement that the policy is outdated, violates trade agreements, and will be replaced with a market-based system. The department says it is creating a transition team to work with the industry and will continue to honour existing contracts that extend beyond 2025.
TANS president Doug Faulkner says members are alarmed by the change, which he argues could allow large contractors and out-of-province companies to dominate bids. He says the 80/20 system not only gave independent truckers stability, but also ensured fair rates and safety standards across the industry. Without it, he warns, many of the association’s 475 members could see their livelihoods threatened.
“This isn’t just about the truckers,” Faulkner said. “It’s about all the businesses that depend on them — repair shops, fuel suppliers, tire shops, insurance and more.” He added that the association plans to fight to keep the rule in place.
The move has also drawn fire from the provincial Liberals. Interim Leader Derek Mombourquette says the change was made without proper consultation and risks undermining small businesses that have long supported local infrastructure. He is calling on the Houston government to reverse the decision and explain why the rule was scrapped.
With the change not set to take effect until 2026, the government insists there will still be plenty of work for local companies, and that the new procurement model will “create more opportunities.” But truckers and their supporters say those opportunities could come at the expense of the very businesses that built Nova Scotia’s roads for generations.
