As promised, Alberta’s NDP government has introduced amendments to their legislation on farm and ranch worker safety. The amendments will exclude family farms and ranches from Occupational Health and Safety and mandatory Workers Compensation Board coverage.
The amendments state that OHS and WCB will only apply to non-owner or non-family individuals who are earning wages. Those who are owners or friends and neighbors volunteering their time will be explicitly excluded.
Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training, and Labour Lori Sigurdson says across the province they have heard the concerns of farming and ranching families, and that the amendments are intended to assure Albertans that their way of life will be preserved.
The final two consultations planned for Bill 6 are set for tomorrow in Athabasca and Olds.