Drumheller Stettler MLA, Rick Strankman, tells The Drumheller Mail he is concerned that Bill 6, Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, is being rushed through the legislature.
On November 17, the Alberta government introduced Bill 6, offering protection for farm and ranch workers through Occupational Health and Safety.
Changes would include ensuring farms and ranches are subject to Occupational Health and Safety legislation to prevent farm and ranch incidents that can result injury or death. It would provide Workers Compensation Board insurance coverage so workers can continue to support their families if they were injured on the job, and protecting farm and ranch owners against the impact of workplace injuries and illness. This will also change Employment Standards and Labour Relations legislation to include farm and ranches.
Lori Sigurdson, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour stated “Everyone deserves a safe, fair and healthy workplace. With this bill, workplace legislation will now extend to farms and ranches. The rules we implement must respect the unique qualities of the farm and ranch industry, and I look forward to working with industry members to develop rules that make sense.”
Rick Strankman explained his main concerns over the legislation for Bill 6, is that it is to be implemented, legalized and passed by January 1, 2016. Strankman said “We only received confirmation of the bill this morning and have not had a chance to look through it completely. Sometimes the devil is in the details to regulation.”
This means debate, consultation with farmers, passing of legislation and implementation will all have be done in less than 45 days. This could lead to bad outcomes for Alberta’s second largest industry.
Strankman went on to explain, that in Alberta, the differences between large commercial farms and small farms, is very wide, so just getting definitions from the legislation is important as there may be unintended consequences in those details. There is no real confirmation from the government on implementation, costs or who will police it.
MLA Rick Strankman said, as a farmer, he is concerned that the important strategy for making immediate improvements begins with education. Strankman said, “Farmers are the most passionate about ensuring farms stay safe, but more can be done to provide education for families and small operations. Nothing can be more effective and can ensure real positive changes occur on farms across Alberta.”
The legislation proposed is passed in all provinces in Canada except Alberta. We are the last to implement the regulations.