The debate whether Alberta farmers and ranchers need Bill 6 is being discussed in full at the town halls, the rallies, in all social media channels and on RealAgriculture.com. We thought it would be interesting to look at Bill 6 through a different lens — through the lens of an experienced political expert. What about... Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
The World Trade Organization has given Canada and Mexico the go-ahead to retaliate against the U.S. for the discrimination caused by American country of origin meat labeling rules. The arbitrators’ decision issued Monday gave Canada permission to implement retaliatory tariffs worth up to C$1.055 billion per year. While the approved figure is less than the... Read More
As the Bill 6 debate continues in Alberta, Real Agriculture is taking a look at how other provinces regulate farm labour, health and safety. Are there lessons to be learned from how other provincial legislation was developed and how it’s constructed? Let’s take a look at Ontario. In June 2006, Ontario agriculture was brought under... Read More
I’m not surprised that Alberta farmers railed against Bill 6. Usually, the status quo is easier to live with than change, particularly imposed change. And in the case of Bill 6, change would occur in everything from farm culture to the bottom line. It still might. But hopefully, not to the same extent. In response... Read More
The Alberta government’s omnibus Bill 6 would impact farms and ranches by making Workers Compensation Board coverage mandatory, providing Occupational Health & Safety regulation in agriculture, implementing new labor laws and giving farm workers the ability to unionize. While the bill would affect agriculture, some of the complications in the communication of Bill 6 details... Read More
Lynn Jacobson, president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture, joins us on this week's TWORA to discuss his views on Bill 6, as we also cover some other noteworthy news stories from the past week: Listen to the TWORA podcast every Thursday!
While there's still a shortage of answers surrounding Bill 6, there's no question the Alberta's farm community's response to the NDP government's proposed farm labour legislation has captured the attention of many Albertans. RealAg's Shaun Haney and Jeff Nonay of Lakeside Dairy, a farmer near Edmonton, were guests on The Ryan Jesperson Show on Thursday... Read More
Following several large protests and opposition from the farm community, the Alberta government on Tuesday announced amendments to "clarify" Bill 6 — The Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. The proposed changes would: make clear Workers' Compensation Board coverage would be required only for paid employees, with an option for farmers to extend... Read More
The debate and protest over Bill 6 has taken several turns in the last ten days. One part of the debate has been over the definition of family farms in the discussion and whether family farms should be protected from Bill 6 legislation. Some farmers are pleading that the added costs of insurance are too... Read More
Details of Alberta’s proposed farm workplace regulations have yet to be formalized, but it’s important farmers remain engaged in shaping what any rules look like, says a farm leader from another NDP-run prairie province. Bill 6 would subject Alberta farms and ranches to Occupational Health and Safety Legislation while making Workers’ Compensation Board insurance coverage... Read More