Alberta premier Rachel Notley is pushing ahead with Bill 6 despite protests across the province to delay or kill the farm safety bill. “We will pass this bill this fall, those paid wage-earning farm workers (in an accident) will receive compensation and will have the right to refuse unsafe work. Over the months to come […] Read more
News
Lethbridge farmers challenge Bill 6
About 750 farmers rallied in Lethbridge today and they didn’t get what they wanted. They wanted the Alberta government to “kill Bill 6”, according to the many placards stuck to vehicles and held aloft. Agriculture minister Oneil Carlier and labour minister Lori Sigurdson said they would take that theme back to cabinet but reiterated the […] Read more
UPDATED: Alberta exempts Hutterites from Bill 6
UPDATED: December 4, 2015 – 1610 CST – RED DEER — In a complete reversal, the Alberta government has announced it will exempt Hutterite colonies and their 22,000 members from mandatory Workers Compensation Board and Occupational Health and Safety coverage. When the Alberta government announced Bill 6, the farm safety bill, documents showed Hutterite colonies […] Read more
Slow down Bill 6, say farmers
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — Almost 400 angry farmers sent a clear message to the Alberta government last week: they don’t want the new farm safety legislation and they believe it is being rushed through without consultation. “This is insulting,” said Jamie White of Teepee Creek. “The idea that we cannot look after our business and […] Read more
Alberta Hutterite colonies want exemption from farm worker compensation bill
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — Mandatory workers compensation premiums would cost Alberta Hutterite colonies more than $22 million a year, said the Hutterite business adviser with accounting firm MNP. Gord Tait said his clients are not only concerned about the potential cost of the mandatory coverage but that it infringes on their Hutterite religious beliefs. Tait, […] Read more
Alta. farmers protest Bill 6
EDMONTON — Protests against Alberta farm worker legislation keep building momentum. A hastily built Facebook page opposed to Bill 6 had 24,000 members in only a few days, farmers packed a Grande Prairie hotel ball room Nov. 26 and about 150 farmers protested at the Alberta legislature Nov. 27. Another rally at the legislature was […] Read more
Alberta boy starts petition against labour bill
Andrew Meinen says the proposed provincial legislation would restrict his ability to help his parents on their farm
Andrew Meinen, 11, objects to an Alberta government farm safety bill, and he is doing something about it. He developed a petition and is soliciting signatures from people who object to Bill 6, the NDP government’s farm safety legislation. “Why should kids like me, under 14, not be allowed to work on the farm,” Meinen […] Read moreMaple Leaf plans to cut 400 jobs
(Reuters) — Maple Leaf Foods Inc. plans to cut 400 management jobs, or about three percent of its workforce, saying it was ready to streamline operations after starting up Canada’s biggest meat plant. The announcement came nearly a month after the meat packer pushed back its timeline for hitting a key profitability target. Maple Leaf, […] Read more
Deere sees weak sales
(Reuters) — Fourth quarter earnings at Deere & Co. did not fall as much as Wall Street expected, and the company gave a less dire outlook than analysts had feared, saying it is well-positioned to weather a worsening slump in demand for its farm equipment. Shares of the maker of John Deere equipment rose following […] Read more
New info on clubroot life cycle may alter rotation suggestion
Research has found that 50 percent of clubroot spores are gone or non-viable after a two-year break from canola
New research is changing the way farmers and industry look at clubroot. The information is challenging conventional wisdom from when to seed in a clubroot infested field to the life cycle of the disease, said Dan Orchard, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. Researchers used to believe the half life of clubroot […] Read more
