The Wildrose Party is speaking out against the provincial government’s decision to legislate farm and ranch work conditions without first consulting farmers.
“Essentially, the government is asking us to trust them to consult and fairly write regulations,” said Glenn van Dijken, Wildrose MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock and shadow minister of transportation.
“To be quite honest, that’s like giving the government a blank cheque to do whatever they willy-nilly want. A lot is in this bill without due consultation with the very stakeholders it’s going to effect. It appears to be very much being rammed down the throats of our family farms.”
Bill 6, The Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, would require farm and ranch operations to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workers Compensation Board as of Jan. 1, 2016. Eventually, the bill would include amendments to the Employment Standards and Labour Relations Code. Up until now, farms and ranches were exempt from those regulations. But, since the changes were announced Nov. 17, van Dijken has been flooded with e-mails from farmers.
“What people are really nervous about is the type of legislation that would come and essentially get in the way of the family farm operating as a family culture and lifestyle,” he explained.
“These are our homes. My farm is also my home. My wife and I chose to farm because of the lifestyle. Our children grew up doing chores and learning the discipline of farm work.”
However, Alberta Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour Lori Sigurdson issued a response on Friday, stating that life on the farm won’t change.
“The concerns I’m hearing about most relate to what the legislation means for family, friends and neighbours who pitch in on the farm,” stated Sigurdson. “I can assure you that farm kids will continue to make their communities proud in their local 4-H program, just as they do in every other province.
“In the meantime, the legislation provides two simple things: a paid farm worker who is directed to do something dangerous can say no, just like other workers in Alberta and Canada. And if they are hurt, or killed at work, they or their family can be compensated, just like other workers in Alberta and Canada.”
Van Dijken said he agreed that improving safety is critical, but the absence of public input has not taken into consideration the safety precautions farmers already have in place.
“It’s not as if people are against protecting their employees,” he said.
“Some farms that have employees have WCB. I have hired men on my farm when I was in the livestock industry and there is private insurance that can be provided. One feedlot operator let me know that they investigated both and they are on private insurance because it had better coverage for their farm.”
Only a handful of public consultations were scheduled when the announcement was first made, almost all south of Edmonton.
But, after some outcry last Tuesday, a number of open houses where added to the schedule — Vegreville Dec. 8 and Athabasca Dec. 14.
The Vegreville spots quickly filled up via online registration, but seats are still available in Athabasca. The local meeting will be held at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex from 1-4 p.m.
Farmers can put their names on the waiting list for the other meetings or fill out an online survey.
Van Dijken said he will be attending the Athabasca meeting, but Westlock County reeve Bud Massey said he would have liked the location to be closer.
“It’s going to be winter-time. The roads are icy. I think you should err on the side of extra, not less,” he said. “I’m not speaking for council this time, because that’s my personal opinion and it would have to go back before council with more information, but my personal opinion is we’re better off to have more access to information — more local access, more local participation. It’s a minor cost.”
Bill 6 is expected to pass third reading and into law sometime this month.
• With files from Alistair Finlay, Westlock News
