The six working groups that will be developing recommendations on how employment standards and labour relations will apply to the agriculture producers under the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act (Bill 6) will be starting work in mid-June.
Al Kemmere, the president of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC) and a Mountain View County councillor, is a member of one of the groups.
“This is all about the farmers and the farming community,” Kemmere told the Gazette. “One of the reasons that the AAMDC wanted to be there is because we are a little concerned that there are possibly some sectors of the agricultural community that may not get covered.
“We can maybe help deliver a little bit different perspective because agriculture is a big part of our communities, and our farmers and agricultural operators often rely on municipalities for both extension work and to raise some of their concerns. To be there is important.
“It's going to take time and there is a process. It's going to be a challenge. We are going to take it one step at a time and I'd rather take time to do it right than to rush it and leave ourselves subject to potential shortcomings.”
The 78 members of the working groups were officially named on May 20. Members were selected by the government and include representatives from agriculture and labour, as well as technical experts.
A timeline for the working groups to report back to the government has not been released.
Kemmere is one of a dozen members on one of the two technical working groups. Other working group members include cattle and forage farm worker Gregory Harris from Cremona, producer Greg Norman from Red Deer County, and producer Blaine Staples, also from Red Deer County.
Passed into law in December, Bill 6 brings paid, non-family agriculture workers under Occupational Health and Safety standards and Workers' Compensation Board regulations.
As well as employment standards and labour relations, the groups will also be looking at occupational health and safety rules.
“We know we can make workplaces safer,” Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Oneil Carlier said in announcing the working groups' membership. “We've seen the rates of farm fatalities and serious injuries go down when laws to protect farm and ranch employees were introduced in other jurisdictions.
“Legislation works. That's why we are eager to begin this process to provide input from a broad and diverse range of voices from the farming and ranching sector.”
The Alberta AgCoalition was formed in January with a mandate to “unify the farm and ranch community in an effort to foster a culture of farm safety in Alberta.”
Following the naming of the working groups' membership, officials with the coalition said it would like to see more information on the terms of reference and mandate of the Bill 6 consultation tables.
“Knowing the terms of reference, leadership and expertise of the table members is key information going into this process,” coalition co-chair Kent Erickson said in a press release.
“We believe that our members need to know whether they will be on a level playing field to develop regulations that increase the safety on farms and ranches in Alberta for their families and workers.”
Until the working groups get down to work, it's “way too early to say right now” whether the regulations will be workable, said Kemmere.
“I think the minister was very clear that he won't even set deadlines yet,” said Kemmere. “It's going to be a work in progress and I understand there will be a public engagement once the committee work is done.
“We've got the assurances that we will be able to share our messaging with the organizations. There aren't going to be any confidentiality restrictions from what I understand. I'm happy to hear that.”
The AAMDC represents 69 rural municipalities, including Mountain View and Red Deer counties.
"This is all about the farmers and the farming community."Al KemmereAAMDC president
