Government ministers fanning out to personally clarify points about proposed new law
Alberta Legislature, Labour Minster Lori Sigurdson admitted the government "could have done a better job in communicating."
1. Will workers compensation be mandatory for all farm workers, including family members?
2. How much will WCB coverage cost?
3. How dangerous are farms?
4. What about occupational health and safety?
5. Will kids and neighbours still be able to help out on family farms?
Alberta farmers are fighting Bill 6, which makes the farm workplace safer. When did safety become a four-letter word? Bill 6 won't affect family farms. There will still be free child labour and no monetary compensation for injuries to any friends, neighbours, and relatives helping out on the family farm. Bill 6 will, however, protect seasonal workers, migrant workers, and paid employees by giving them the right to refuse unsafe work and be compensated in the event of injury or death. Alberta's Bill 6 is about having a safer workplace.
"Every other Canadian province and territory has workplace safety rules on farms. Four provinces -- Alberta, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia -- don't require WCB coverage on farms." (CBC, Dec.03, 2015)
Premier Rachel Notley's open letter to Albertans explains why Bill 6 is needed:
"The Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research shows that between 1990 and 2009, Alberta had a total of 355 agriculture-related deaths, an average of 18 per year. Estimates are that for each person who dies, 25 others are so severely injured, they are hospitalized. The number of additional injuries requiring medical attention in Alberta is anyone's guess as our legislation does not currently allow us to collect that information."
Bill 6
The outcry over Bill 6 is spearheaded by the Wildrose party. Leader Brian Jean is using part of Stephen Harper's playbook where fear, misunderstanding, and anger over an issue are used to score political points.
"The Wildrose has seized on this issue much like it did in 2009 when it helped stoke the fears of rural Albertans over Bill 50 introduced by the Progressive Conservative government to fast-track the construction of transmission lines. Although the Wildrose is often the first one to eagerly pour fuel onto political fires, party leader Brian Jean did offer advice on Monday that could help: 'Stop the bill...Don't pass it next week.'" (Edmonton Journal, 2015)
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