By Charles Lefebvre

Greenhouse grower praises new bill, still seeking Labour Code changes

Apr 6, 2018 | 5:19 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A local greenhouse producer is applauding a new bill to promote local growers and producers in Alberta.

However, Albert Cramer, owner of Rolling Hills Greenhouses, is also concerned that not enough attention is being paid to recent labour code changes affecting greenhouse growers.

On Thursday, Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier tabled the Supporting Alberta’s Local Food Sector Act in the legislature. If passed, the bill would establish local food councils, adopt the country’s Organic Food Standard in Alberta and create an Alberta Local Food Week.

“It’s great to see the government supporting us as local growers, and local farmers,” said Cramer. “Hopefully, we can convince people to buy local vegetables.”

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Cramer adds Medicine Hat has already shown strong support for buying local.

“They come right to the greenhouse to buy our vegetables,” he said. “And also, our grocery stores in in Medicine Hat have a very good presence of our vegetables.”

Cramer’s focus, however, remains on attempting to have the province put greenhouses back under the agriculture exemption in the Labour Code. Greenhouses now have to pay overtime to employees who work more than 44 hours a week.

“Because we’re agriculture, it’s not that easy to do,” he said. “Our workers are geared to work more than eight hours a day, so they put an extra strain on us growers to be able to do that. It’s unfortunate.”

Cramer has brought the issue to the attention of Labour Minister Christina Gray. He adds he will be heading to Edmonton Tuesday to speak with the Ministry of Labour about the issue.