File Photo - A local rancher shows her displeasure during the 2015 consultation on the controversial Bill 6 in Medicine Hat.

By Alex McCuaig

Bill 6 Farmer

Farm safety advocate calls for review, not repeal of Bill 6

Jul 18, 2019 | 5:31 PM

The founder of the Farmworkers Union of Alberta says it is one thing to review the controversial Bill 6 legislation but repealing the act to what existed prior to 2015 would be a setback for agricultural workers.

Eric Musekamp, a Winnifred, Alberta based farm safety advocate, has been one of the few islands of support within the agricultural community in a province flooded with opposition to the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act.

Musekamp said that prior to the introduction of the act, “we didn’t do any of the normal protocols that every other industry in every other province, in every other civilized country. We didn’t do investigations. We had no standards for equipment – no safety standards. Not even child labour standards.”

Musekamp has good reason to fear a repeal of the legislation.

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“We’re going to repeal Bill 6 and I plan to meet with farmers this summer to develop the legislation to replace it,” according to a statement by Minister Devin Dreeshen on the Government of Alberta website.

The Farm Freedom and Safety Act is expected to be introduced this fall based on consultations with Alberta ranchers and farmers with the stated aim of the legislation to reduce red tape while ensuring farm safety.