Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken is joining other Wildrose Party MLAs in speaking out against the proposed legislation that would mandate WCB coverage for farm workers, which passed second reading on the evening of Dec. 2.
van Dijken, who is the Wildrose Party’s shadow minister of transportation, said Bill 6 is effectively a “blank cheque” to let the government do whatever they 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,” he said.
Bill 6, also known as 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. Up until now, farms and ranches were exempt from those regulations.
Since the introduction of the legislation, farmers and ranchers have hosted several large protest rallies around the province, including one such protest on Nov. 30 which was profiled in this week’s Town & Country.
A number of other agricultural organizations, such as the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Beef Producers, have also spoken out against Bill 6.
“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,” van Dijken said.
“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 emphasized on Friday that life on the farm won’t change.
That’s because the act is being amended to ensure WCB coverage will only be required for paid employees and not family members, neighbours and friends — there will be an option for farmers to extend coverage to these unpaid workers.
“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,” said Sigurdson.
“In the mean time, 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 bill was first announced, almost all south of Edmonton.
But, after some outcry, a number of open houses where added to the schedule, including one in Athabasca on Monday, Dec. 14. The meeting will be held at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex from 1-4 p.m.
As of Friday, Dec. 4, there were still some spots open at the Athabasca meeting that can be reserved online. But even if those spots have now been filled, 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 and final reading this month, followed by royal assent.
It should be noted that while opposition to Bill 6 is strong, not every agricultural group is against the legislation. For instance, the National Farmers Union has come out in favour of the act, arguing that it will ensure both farmers and farm workers are protected.
“The increased awareness of Workers Compensation as a result of this law will encourage more farmers to join the program themselves,” said NFU Region 8 co-ordinator Peter Eggers, in a release.
“We never want to think about what would happen if we had an accident on the farm, but if it happens, Workers Compensation can make the difference so that a person can farm again.”
• With files from Alistair Finlay and Kevin Berger, Westlock News
