The NDP government is moving forward with plans to implement new rules and regulations for the province's agriculture industry through the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act.
Six technical working groups are in the midst of being established to develop recommendations on how employment standards, occupational health and safety, and labour relations requirements should be applied to the agricultural sector.
“I am encouraged to see that they are moving this forward to consultations,” said Bonnyville – Cold Lake MLA Scott Cyr, who fought hard against the implementation of the act, also known as Bill 6.
“If they take this seriously and really listen to farmers and ranchers that are actually out there doing the farming and ranching, I believe we can see some good results from this.”
Currently the province is going through the process of identifying representatives from the agricultural sector, labour groups and technical experts who could sit as members of these working groups. An independent and impartial individual with demonstrated mediation, consensus and board governance experience will chair each group.
“I have had some interest in the local area from people wanting to be on that board,” said Cyr. “When it comes to those boards there are never enough spots on them. There are a lot advocacy groups wanting to get involved.”
Cyr feels the majority of the people who will make up the working groups will be members of advocacy groups throughout the province, who represent hundreds to thousands of farmers and ranchers.
The province has yet to give out much information on the groups, such as how many members will be a part of each group and the timeframe they will be working under.
“There are a lot of questions right now that are unanswered when it comes to this group,” said Cyr. “Is it appropriate to do this in six months or is this something that should be done over 18 months to two years?”
All the NDP has stated is that the working groups will take a look at how these new rules and regulations should be applied, taking into consideration the unique needs of employers and employees in the agriculture sector.
“Farming is more than a job, it's a way of life, and this government recognizes that. These technical working groups will provide an opportunity for a broad and diverse range of voices from the farming and ranching sector to ensure their way of life is preserved, while at the same time ensuring waged workers come home safely at the end of each day,” said Oneil Carlier, minister of agriculture and forestry.
Bill 6 successfully passed through the Alberta Legislature in mid-December and will bring occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations along with workers compensation board (WCB) rules to the agriculture sector. The move was highly scrutinized by farmers across the province, many of which reside in the Lakeland region.
The Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act is aiming to bring protection and compensation of waged, non-family farm and ranch workers in line with what is already extended to other workers in Alberta and similar to what's in place in other provinces.
“In the end this WBC and OHS is going through,” said Cyr. “The question is how do we create the regulations to ensure that our farmers and ranchers can still operate a family farm within Alberta.”
“Should the government come to a compromise that allows family farms to continue to operate this could work out. I think for now we just need to be patient and see where they go with it.”
