Farmers and ranchers are strong in their resolve to send Bill 6 back to the drawing board.
The Legislature was a whirl of activity this week, inside and outside. On Thursday, the biggest rally of farm and ranch families took up residence on the front steps of the Legislature Building standing up for their farms.
The drama this week also took place inside as opposition parties hammered the sitting government during question period, while the Premier stated the government’s intention is to pass the bill before the end of the session.
A release contradicting some of the literature that came with the original Bill, promised amendments to deal with a couple of the contentious issues.
These amendment proposes that WCB coverage would be required only for paid employees, with an option for farmers to extend coverage to unpaid workers like family members, neighbours and friends. They also propose that Occupational Health and Safety standards apply when a farm employs one or more paid employees at any time of the year.
Last week Shandele Battle of Delia began an online petition on Change.org and has nearly 25,000 signatures. She also took to the street with her family to collect signatures on a hard copy petition, planned to be presented to the Legislature.
“They wanted the signatures up there by Monday to present, but it doesn’t sound like she (Premier Rachel Notley) is listening to them and is pushing it through regardless with what we think or say,” she said.
“They are pressing forward, they say they will have consultation throughout the province, but the problem is the consults are going to be after the bill is put through. Then what do we do? They will be able to do whatever they want. This is what makes farmers mad.”
She has read the amendments, but is unsure if they will make any difference.
“We are to the point we don’t trust her. When you try to sneak the bill through without people being notified, if it wasn’t such a big deal, why weren’t we notified?” she asked.
In a press release, the Wildrose opposition expressed they sense the government is wavering, citing a comment attributed to Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier, apologizing for the handling of the Bill, and says the process had been an “odd way of doing things.”
“The Minister’s comments were clear. The NDP is no longer confident in Bill 6. We need to show them now that we’re not backing down,” said Shadow critic and Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman.