EDMONTON – A long convoy made its way from Fort MacLeod to Okotoks Wednesday to attend an information session on Bill 6 in the Alberta community.
People along the side of the highway and on overpasses gathered to watch and support the group.
The Okotoks public meeting is one of seven scheduled around the province over the next two weeks.
Sessions will also be held in Lethbridge on Thursday, Medicine Hat on Friday, Leduc on Monday, Dec. 7, Vegreville on Tuesday, Dec. 8, Olds on Wednesday, Dec. 9, and Athabasca on Monday, Dec. 14.
READ MORE: It’s ‘labour legislation disguised as farm safety’; Alberta family concerned about Bill 6
Farmers and ranchers remain angry about the bill despite NDP assurances that family members and volunteers won’t be subject to new regulations included in the the farm safety legislation.
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On Tuesday, Premier Rachel Notley said controversy surrounding Bill 6 has been caused by a communications problem, not a problem with the bill itself.
The premier admitted government officials displayed an “unfortunate lack of knowledge” during earlier public meetings, which partially was to blame for the confusion over the bill.
READ MORE: Alberta to amend Bill 6 to clarify kids, neighbours can still help out on family farms
The NDP said it would introduce an amendment to Bill 6 to make it clear that kids and neighbours volunteering to help would still be able to on family farms. WCB and OHS regulations would only apply to paid farm workers.
“What I want Alberta farmers to know is that their kids will continue to be able to work on the farm as they always have, and they will continue to be able to be educated on the farm through 4-H programs as they always have,” Notley said.
READ MORE: ‘We want safety’: Farmer combines, tractors line Alberta’s Highway 2 to protest Bill 6
Bill 6, introduced in the legislature on Nov. 17, would give paid farm workers access to Workers Compensation benefits if injured on the job. It also puts farms and ranches under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, allowing investigators to review any injury, accident or death related to the commercial operation of a farm.
The legislation would extend workers’ compensation and workplace rules on hours, vacation pay and collective bargaining to 43,000 farms and ranches.
The changes are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, although the technical requirements under OHS won’t be ready until 2017.
With files from Karen Bartko
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