Alberta farmers worried about proposals to eliminate agriculture’s exemption to occupational health and safety regulations want to work with government to try and get rules they can work with.
“We want to get involved early in the process so farmers needs are represented, so it is specifically tailored to agriculture,” said Lee Markert, chair of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.
He made the comments after the Alberta Wheat Commission, Alberta Barley, the Alberta Canola Producers Commission and the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission announced they would participate in expected occupational health and safety consultations.
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Agriculture minister Oneil Carlier and jobs, skills, training and labour minister Lori Sigurdson have said they want to remove agriculture’s exemption from the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
“I am very pleased that they are eager because absolutely we care very much what the people in those groups and the farm and ranch sector believe,” said Sigurdson.
Representatives from farm groups met with Carlier and Sigurdson at the end of June to discuss new farm safety and employment rules.
Alberta is the only province to have an agricultural exemption, and the NDP government is committed to lifting it.
“We believe it’s very important for every worker in Alberta, regardless of their workplace, to go and be safe. We are wanting to make sure that is so,” Sigurdson said.
Markert said farmers assume the worst when they hear that farm regulations are changing and worry regulations suitable for office workers will apply to farms.
“I think it’s important that the ministry is very aware this is a situation that is very different from oil and gas and from any other industry in Alberta,” he said.
“As a result of that, it is going to be more custom fit to farmers in Alberta.”
He said he wants the new regulations to take into account the busy times on the farm, such as spring and fall.
“There are still a lot of farmers who will feel it is something that will be … very disruptive and cumbersome and bureaucratic,” he said.
Sigurdson said the government would strive to find a solution that protects both farmers and workers in their unique situations.
“There are some absolute unique things in the farm and ranch sector like overtime hours that need to be looked at differently because at harvest and seeding, people are working long hours,” she said.
“There are very specific things we need to take into consideration as we move forward to make sure these workers are protected.”
Mike Ammeter, chair of Alberta Barley, agreed that farmers must be involved in the review process.
“When it comes to discussing farm safety, I think nobody knows my farm better than myself,” he said.
“I can speak with the most knowledge regarding my farm.”
The four grain commissions can have a powerful voice by joining forces, he said.
Markert said exempting Alberta farmers from occupational health and safety rules could jeopardize Canada’s position in international trade agreements,.
“When it comes to the aspect of social licence and social responsibility, this is something we have to be on top of if we are going to keep these markets open around the world.”
Farmers, farmer organizations and the former Progressive Conservative government previously opposed Alberta farmer inclusion in health and safety citing increased costs.
“I think producers will ultimately be concerned about the cost initially, but I don’t think that is what it is really about. It is about education and ability to provide a better work environment for Alberta farmers and Alberta farm families,” said Markert.
“Maybe we have just had time to think about it and maybe it is not going to be quite as onerous as we originally had expected. Ultimately it will prove to be beneficial.”
Sigurdson said updated farm worker safety legislation is a priority for the government and expected new legislation to be introduced in the fall session of the legislature.
