Bill 6, the hotly contested act to protect farm workers, is a prime example of the provincial government's desire to push through legislation without proper consultation, according to Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper.
Under Bill 6, Alberta's approximately 43,000 Alberta farms and ranches would have to obey Occupational Health and Safety standards, obtain Workers' Compensation Board coverage and follow various labour rules, including providing vacation pay and paying at least minimum wage.
The NDP government says it crafted the legislation to protect farm workers.
However, many farmers and ranchers say the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act encroaches on their freedoms, will be too costly, and interfere in traditional farm life. They also say they weren't consulted before the bill was drafted.
Lately government representatives have said changes will be made to “clarify” that farm families' traditional way of life and the way they operate the family farm will be protected.
Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier was booed and jeered when he met with about 500 angry farmers in Red Deer this past Wednesday. They didn't accept his statements or the word of the government.
That was one of several demonstrations against the bill, held throughout the past week.
Others echoed the Opposition Wildrose Party's stance that the bill should be sent to committee where it can receive input from the Opposition and farmers.
In addition to being the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, Cooper is the Wildrose Party's house leader.
“They're going to pass the law and then they're going to consult on what passing the law means for farmers,” he told the Albertan.
“Why don't they send the thing to committee, get all the regulations and all of the nuances of the bill solved before they pass the bill into law and that way, farmers can feel like they've actually been consulted,” he asked.
“The bill might actually do some positive things – particularly in the area of large feedlot operations or large corporate farms with 20-, 30-plus employees. It's going to protect some of those workers. But what are the ramifications for the family farm?”
Cooper said it's his understanding that when Workers' Compensation Board reps have met with farmers regarding the bill, it hasn't really been an opportunity for farmer/rancher input.
“We understand that there are meetings where WCB is telling farmers what they need to do to be compliant – not actually taking feedback from them,” Cooper says. “That's not consultation; that's not openness and transparency.”
He notes the government's plan this past week was to pass about five pieces of legislation, including Bill 6.
Cooper says such speedy passage doesn't give the public or the Opposition enough time to properly scrutinize those bills and propose changes to improve them.
“There's one piece of legislation that we haven't even seen yet,” Cooper said during the interview with the Albertan.
“(It's called) The Public Education Collective Bargaining Act,” Cooper said. “So here's a piece of legislation we have not seen. It has not been introduced in the house.
“Other than the title, we have no idea about it and in all likelihood, if the government gets their way, it will be law (shortly).
“It might be a good piece of legislation. It also might be horrible. But the point is that we move through pieces of legislation so quickly.”
Cooper stresses his party is willing to work with the provincial government – if it will work with them.
“Listen, we don't have a monopoly on good ideas,” he says.
“We're happy when the government listens and the government takes proactive steps and provides good legislation, we're happy to support those things.
“It's when they don't consult; it's when they don't listen to Albertans; it's when they take a ‘we know best' approach that the Opposition works so diligently at opposing (them).”
"It's when they don't consult; it's when they don't listen to Albertans; it's when they take a 'we know best' approach that the Opposition works so diligently at opposing (them)."NATHAN COOPEROLDS-DIDSBURY-THREE HILLS MLA
