Now that Bill 6 -- the provincial government's controversial legislation regarding work rules on farms -- has been passed, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper says his job is to help farmers and ranchers become compliant with that law.
He says his job is also to ensure that the government actually lives up to its promise to consult with farmers and ranchers as it hammers out regulations for the new law.
“Lots of people have been calling and asking that exact same question – what does happen now,” Cooper said during an interview with the Albertan.
“And unfortunately, there are a lot more questions than answers. We're going to be working with the government to get all the information that people need when it comes to WCB (Workers' Compensation Board), the requirements,” he added.
According to the bill, passed last Thursday, theoretically, farmers and ranchers are expected to be compliant with the legislation Jan. 1. However, Cooper says there's actually a six-month grace period to allow them to do so.
“We will do everything that we can to work with people to help get them compliant. As far as we understand, WCB will be sending out information to all constituency offices so that if they're contacting us, people can get the information,” Cooper says.
Meanwhile, Cooper says he and his Wildrose Party colleagues will “do everything that we can to work with land owners, farmers and ranchers to make sure that their voice doesn't get forgotten on the regulations.”
“The government has made lots of commitments to ensuring that there are consultations during the regulation period and we want to make sure that farmers do get heard,” he says.
When asked if he's confident the provincial government will consult with farmers and ranchers on those regulations and implement the suggestions they receive, Cooper says, “well, they'd be crazy not to. They've seen a lot of outrage and our concern of course is whether they will hear and listen.”
He cites last week's information session on the bill at the Cow Palace in Olds which attracted roughly 900 angry farmers, ranchers and their families.
“Over the past few weeks, they've listened to farmers and ranchers. I mean, we saw that in Olds (Dec. 9 at the Cow Palace). But whether or not they heard, is part of the challenge,” Cooper says.
Cooper says some portions of the legislation are actually “a step in the right direction” and with some adjustment, might be acceptable to the farming and ranching community.
“Lots of farmers and ranchers acknowledge that the insurance side of the piece of legislation isn't all that horrible. Many of them would like to see choice,” he says.
“If it's going to be mandatory, they should be able to choose between equivalent private insurance or WCB. Because many farm/ranch workers around here already have some form of private insurance that covers them 24/7 and provides additional benefits.
“(They'll) likely end up losing that benefit because their employer is going to be forced to go to WCB.
“So lots of producers that I spoke with were open to the idea of ensuring that everybody was protected.
“What they were most frustrated with was (alleged) misinformation, the process, and the fact that they were not willing at all to take time and consult with farmers and ranchers – particularly on the regulations side.
“It's the OH and S (Occupational Health and Safety) side and the labour relations that actually caused the most concern for farmers and ranchers – at least the farmers and ranchers that I spoke to,” he says.
"Over the past few weeks, they've listened to farmers and ranchers. I mean, we saw that in Olds. But whether or not they heard, is part of the challenge." NATHAN COOPER MLA OLDS-DIDSBURY-THREE HILLS
