Premier Notley says Bill 6 will not affect family farms

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says a farm safety bill will pass in the legislature this fall despite widespread criticism.

Speaking in a conference call from the global climate conference in Paris, Notley said there will be an announcement soon on how the government will address those concerns and proceed with the legislation.

Changes brought on by the bill would include ensuring farms and ranches are subject to Occupational Health and Safety legislation, with the aim of preventing farm and ranch incidents that can lead to injury or death.

Farmers need to understand the legislation since it affects them, their children and their grandchildren, says Hanson, which is why he hopes the bill will make its way to committee before being passed.

Monday’s protest against Bill 6 at the Legislature.

Jobs minister Lori Sigurdson told 630 CHED’s Ryan Jesperson on Monday that the legislation now didn’t have protections for family farms but said, “The family farm is essential to the culture of Alberta”.

Notley said the goal has always been to regulate and protect paid farm workers, while at the same time excluding family members and volunteers on farms. “I know what it looks like on the farm, and we have no intention of changing that”.

When asked if he supports Bill 6 in any way, Hanson says, “How could you not support farm safety?” But, he adds that legislation should be geared toward the larger, more corporate operations.

Notley said that’s not the case and the government just wants to make things safe for workers.

Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier listens to farmers’ concerns at the town hall in Red Deer. “If you’ve got a 17-year-old on your farm and you’re giving him a wage enough that he’s going to be getting a T-4, then he’s going to be included”. But he also wants to see the legislation deferred until the spring sitting.

Is there any wonder why the NDP went after the farmers under the guise of farm safety?

Dawn Dalueg said she drove two hours from her farm near Galahad, Alta., after signing up to attend the forum on the first day of registration only to be turned away at the door when she arrived. Any government that introduces a bill that impacts on the lives of 45,000 Alberta farm families but can’t answer detailed questions has got it wrong.

“Nobody within the industry is against looking after their employees”, he said. “Agricultural people, farmers and ranchers, are pretty fiercely independent as you well know, and a little slow to trust”.