Farmer and farm families sent the message they will not be lying down in front of the extensive and far reaching Bill 6.
On Monday, farmers won a small victory as the government cancelled debate on the bill.
MLA Rick Strankman said the delaying debate is a small victory, but indicated farmers need to be vigilant.
“Today the Premier told reporters that Bill 6 will be passed this session. The ONLY WAY for this poorly drafted legislation not to pass is for the farmer’s voice to stay strong. We need to see you at the Legislature on Thursday. Carpool with your neighbours, bring a bus from your community. Force the government to postpone the bill and consult with farmers to get it right. Let your voice be heard," he said via Facebook.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Alberta government announced they would be making amendments to clarify the bill. Points included were that they would clarify that WCB would only apply to paid employees and that Occupational Health and Safety Standards would only apply when a farm employs one of more paid employees at any time of year.
“We appreciate the concerns farmers and ranchers have raised. To be clear, Bill 6 is not in any way going to affect children doing their chores, participating in 4-H, or learning the family business. It does not prevent neighbours, relatives and friends from helping each other out during busy times,” said Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. “ It does not apply to recreational activities such as riding horses or hunting on farmland. What Bill 6 does is bring Alberta farm and ranch safety standards in line with other provinces, and ensure that if a wage-earning employee is injured or killed on the job, that person and their family have the same access to financial supports as employees in other sectors.”
For many farmers and ranchers, this bill is seen as a direct affront to their way of life. Marg Sharpe was born and raised on a farm North of Drumheller. In fact, the Sharpe homestead will be turning 100 next year. She spends much of the weekend witnessing signatures on a petition to be presented in the legislature. She feels the fundamental problem with the bill, is there has not been enough consultation.
“I am not against all of Bill 6 … I believe that this government has gone about this bill in the wrong way. They say they have collaborated with the farmers on this issue, but show me a farmer who participated. The problem I have, is that this bill had its first reading last week but not all of the policies have been written. The people actually involved in the industry had no say,” she said.
The petition was at Greentree Mall on Sunday and at Yavis Restaurant on Saturday. Alone she collected 300 signatures, and many more who have been collecting signatures are compiling them to be couriered to Edmonton this week so Wild Rose MLA Grant Hunter for Cardston-Taber-Warner can present it
From what she understands the second reading for Bill 6 could happen this week and the final reading is expected before the legislature closes for the season.
“This is our home. I am speaking for my family and we are not fighting having to pay over-time pay or cover workers with WCB, or give them holiday pay or whatever because the small farmer does not have any full-time employees besides themselves. Even for part-time employees I would gladly pay for WCB and overtime and anything else required, BUT that is not all we are dealing with here.”
Strankman says “Farmers are the most passionate about keeping their farms safe, but they want to be consulted before they see their livelihoods change in a dramatic way. No one cares more about safety on farms than the families who run them, they are the experts, they should be in the driver’s seat. Instead, bureaucrats and ministers, who have clearly lost the trust of farmers, continue to treat them as second-class citizens.”
To View Bill 6, click here.
