Dec 1 Leader

Page 1

Your news this week: Group lottery offer - Page 3 New library services - Page 7 Shandro Film Screening - Page 8

www.LamontLeader.com

Vol. 11, No. 6, Tuesday, December 1, 2015

PHOTOS COURTESY OF D. BROWN

The Alberta Legislature grounds was the scene of a protest Monday during lunch hour. More than 1,000 farmers and ranchers attended the rally that was organized by the Facebook group Save Alberta Farms that has also launched an on-line petition against Bill 6. See related article on page two.

Proposed farm safety legislation bill short on specifics and lacks clarity, says Warawa Michelle Pinon

on several questions sur-

Editor

Too many question marks. That’s what Mundare area farmer Dan Warawa says about Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. Warawa, who serves as Deputy Reeve and Chairman of the Lamont County Agricultural Board, is looking for answers as well as clarity

Dan Warawa

rounding the proposed NDP bill that was introduced in the legislature on Tuesday, Nov. 17th. In fact, the proposed bill was part of the discussion Warawa had with Fort SaskatchewanVegreville MLA Jessica Littlewood, when they had lunch at the legislature this past Thursday. Bill 6 would make workers compensation coverage mandatory for all farms who employ workers, and farmers would be subjected to

safety rules and labour laws. Warawa said the bill is short on specifics, and that clarity is needed in order for people to be able to make sense of it. As well, he feels there are too many exemptions in the bill. “It’s not all bad. But it’s not all good either,” stated Warawa, who is hoping the questions he and other farmers have regarding the bill will be answered at the upcoming town hall meeting at the Vegreville Social

Centre on Tuesday, Dec. 8th between 1 and 4 p.m. Littlewood said she would be in attendance at that meeting, and is also planning on holding her own consultation session in the near future. Littlewood said she has heard both support and concerns for the proposed bill. “There’s not a one size fits all,” said Littlewood, and that’s why consultations are being held. She believes the rules must be practi-

cal and take into account the unique needs of all farmers throughout the province. Littlewood added that the proposed changes must address and reflect the evolving needs of the agriculture industry and take into consideration the protection of all workers health and safety seriously. She also encourages constituents to participate in the online survey by visiting work.alberta.ca/farmandranch


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.