Farm Worker Safety (March 15)
Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the last reported year there were 23 farm-related deaths and 757 injuries that required ER visits.
While this government supports farm safety education programs, there has been no noticeable decline in the farm injuries or deaths, and paid farm workers continue to be excluded from the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act and aren’t covered under workmen’s comp. To the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. A year ago the minister was consulting with the agricultural sector on farm safety. When will the farm safety report . . .
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Hayden: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We ran out of time for the full question, but with respect to the issue of farm safety, we are concentrating on reducing fatalities and injuries rather than regulating and legislating what takes place there to the point that this morning I made an announcement that $715,000 is being invested through ag societies throughout the province to put on farm safety seminars and education seminars in order to make it a safer environment for people to work. So our commitment is there.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the same question in a year and see if that extra money has really helped.
To the Minister of Employment and Immigration: when will you be introducing legislation amending the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect the health and safety of paid farm workers, as was recommended by a provincial judge over two years ago?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has clearly indicated that both his ministry and the Department of Employment and Immigration are committed to farmer safety. Indeed, there is a report that in due course the minister may be receiving. It’s that ministry that takes the lead on it. But in the meantime I am of the firm opinion that I’d rather prevent accidents from happening in the first place than deal with their consequences. That’s what both of the ministries are committed to right now.
Ms Pastoor: Well, that was a nice answer, but I’m not sure that it really was the one that would match my question. Why does the minister continue to exclude paid farm workers from workers’ comp coverage? What is the rationale behind that decision?
Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, work environment on a farm obviously differs a great deal from that in any industrial setting. A farm is also a place where people actually live and raise children, and it’s a community, so applying strict industrial standards to a farm setting is not exactly comparable. But there are reports that we are looking at. You must appreciate the fact that both the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and I had a chance yesterday to take a fresh look at it. Wait and see what we shall do.
Alberta Hansard, March 15, 2010