The provincial government's decision to allow agricultural service boards to provide input into Bill 6 regulations is a positive move, says Al Kemmere, a Mountain View County councillor and president of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC).
The Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act (Bill 6) passed in the legislature on Dec. 10. Once implemented the act will bring paid farm workers under Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
Consultations on the development of the legislation's regulations are ongoing.
The AAMDC, which represents 69 rural municipalities, including Mountain View and Red Deer counties, has called on the government to have those consultations include agriculture service boards, which are made up of councillors and members of the public at large.
The boards advise municipalities and the province on agriculture issues and concerns.
“While farm safety legislation may be required, the provincial government should only proceed following thoughtful and extensive consultation with Alberta's farming and ranching community to ensure that any proposed changes balance the need to protect farm workers while maintaining the viability of the agriculture industry,” the AAMDC said.
In his monthly report to council during the Jan. 13 council meeting, Kemmere said including input from agricultural service boards is a positive move.
“Job, skills, trades and labour has announced through their website their next round of consultations and to our pleasure they have included what we've asked for, to include the ag service boards as part of a reference group to that,” said Kemmere.
“We are still asking to get some municipal direct involvement. Ag service boards are going to be on the front line as far as representing municipal interests. Our big focus from AAMDC is to make sure that those people who are not members of any association still have a voice. That's where we felt the ag service board would be the best avenue to the unrepresented farmer.”
Critics of Bill 6 call it an unreasonable government intrusion into Alberta's farming community.
"To our pleasure they have included what we've asked for."Al KemmereAAMDC president
