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.

    Jillian Augey and raising awareness of Lyme related Illness will be spotlighted on a radio show on Voice America.
    Augey has been asked to co-host and be interviewed for a one-hour program related to Lyme disease. The host of the show, Dr. Rebecca Risk of Ananta Health in Calgary, treats Lyme disease.
    “Lyme Light has helped many Albertans figure out their ‘medical mysteries.’ In the last year we have helped many people send blood work to US and German labs, and provided names of Lyme literate practitioners,” explains Augey. “Through meeting with sick people and doing awareness campaigns, word spread rapidly. My story has been shared often as has my research and the radio host, Dr. Risk feels interviewing me on radio could reach more people and help those who have fallen through the cracks.”
     On the show, they will discuss symptoms, viable treatment options, testing and the political battled waging over chronic Lyme.
    Augey has been very candid in sharing her experiencing with Lyme related illness and her treatment, and while she is chronically ill and knows she will continue to deal with the health problems, she has stabilized. This has allowed her to continue to do presentations and raise awareness, and has started on a book.
    While he has found something that has helped her, she says every patient is different.
    “There is no cure. There is no set protocol. Everyone responds differently and requires trial and error before funding a treatment that manages their disease profile. We suffer from different infections and symptoms. For serious cases like mine I still suggest starting in the US. For less serious cases and for those who have finished a few years of intensive treatments there are wonderful TCM and ND practitioners to see in Canada.”
    “The same problems I faced are still posing problems for newly diagnosed patients, but at the ground level there’s awareness and support. We are working within the front lines so to speak instead of a top down model. Helping one local at a time seems to be the most effective manner of affecting change.
    The program airs at www.voiceamerica.com on Monday, November 23 at 10 a.m., and is available for 24 hours after the show airs. The show is also available on iTunes.