The convoy of tractors, combines and trucks rolled into Lethbridge Dec. 3 clad with “Kill Bill 6” placards.
The southern Alberta farmers gathered at a local hotel for a meeting about the bill, also known as the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, which the government announced last month and said it intends to pass before year end.
Farmers said during the pre-meeting rally that they want the government to stop or delay the bill and undertake more consultation with those it will affect.
“It’s really hard to regulate a farm, that’s what I feel,” said local farmer Tony Bos.
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“I’m all for safety. We like to have good rules and regulations. We have no problem with that. But give us the rules and regulations first and then put them into law. That’s the biggest thing for me.”
Jake Meyer, a cattle producer from Welling, Alta., agreed.
“I think the consultation, if it would have been done in a more timely manner, would have been just fine. But the timing is absolutely incorrect because the bill’s already been (written) so the consultation is null and void.”
Rick Paskal, owner of large feedlots in the region, said he objected to the way government characterized farm safety.
“A couple disturbing things, as far as I’m concerned, is this connotation by our government of the day that family farms are not operated in a safe manner. It’s disturbing to farmers in general. I think that’s one of the major things here.”
David McKinstry, a grain farmer from Oyen, Alta., was succinct in his view.
“They have to kill Bill 6. They have to start over, hit the reset button. They have to address each issue individually and then have rational discussions, workshops, online polls, whatever.”
However, labour minister Lori Sigurdson rejected that suggestion.
“We still have a full year to work out the technical requirements, the legislation. That’s how it works. You pass the act and then you work out the technical requirements,” she said in an interview before the meeting.
“We still have a considerable amount of time and unfortunately, and I’ll take responsibility for that, that’s not been communicated very well. So there is a significant amount of time for us to work with farmers and ranchers to get this right.”
Sigurdson said she recognized that the government has lost farmer trust over the issue but added it is sincere in its desire to draft legislation that reflects the needs of agriculture.
