John Bystrom, who farms west of Red Deer, said the rollout of Bill 6 has been rushed and confusing.
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“There will be an announcement coming shortly, [but] it is not one I think would be appropriate to announce from Paris”, she said. But Notley wouldn’t say whether there will be any substantial amendments.
“And they will continue to be able to be educated on the farm through 4-H programs as they always have”. I get this issue.
When asked about protections for family farms, Sigurdson said, “That’s not in the legislation”.
“We have listened to farmers and ranchers about the need for greater clarity”, said Lori Sigurdson, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour. So we’re going to do some further diligence on this, create these amendment, certainly speaking with farmers and ranchers in that process.
“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”.
If approved, the law would ensure that 60,000 farm and ranch workers in Alberta will have the same basic protections that other workers in the province have received for decades, according to a media release from the provincial government. They would be allowed to refuse unsafe work without having to fear being fired.
In Edmonton, hundreds of farmers and ranchers and their families protested at the Alberta legislature Friday, while hundreds more gathered in the same place the following Monday – demonstrations were also held in Nanton, Welling and near Fort Macleod.
Monday’s protest against Bill 6 at the Legislature.
“If you’re getting a T-4 at the end of the day, you’re a paid farm worker”, he explained. You know where this story is going already. But he also wants to see the legislation deferred until the spring sitting.
The biggest concerns Hanson has heard is that parents are more concerned about safety on the farm than any government can ever be.
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.
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Bob Lowe, chairman of the Alberta Beef Producers, said the government is moving in the right direction by trying to build trust with farmers over the bill, but it’s the potential of wide-changing legislation that has farmers on edge.
