Big Crowds Protest Bill 6 In Okotoks

It's all sunshine and roses for the provincial Ag Minister Oneil Carlier and Jobs Minister Lori Sigurdson.

They deny there's been a backlash against Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, and look at what's been happening for the last few days as consultation.

Sigurdson says Wednesday's meeting in Okotoks garnered more interest than they expected.

"Originally we didn't know that there would be this many (people), but we are adding further consultations because it's so important for us to hear from farmers and ranchers to make sure that we understand their concerns," she says.

Sigurdson says the government's going to be bringing in two amendments to the legislation that explicitly spell out the new rules only apply to paid workers.

"Because this was always going to be our intent, but we've been asked by the farming and ranching sector to make that explicit, so we're introducing two new amendments that are coming up very shortly so that it's very clear that this is for paid workers," Sigurdson says.

Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier says he takes some of the responsibility for the poor communication of Bill 6.

"I think there was some misinformation that came out, not enough clear direction about where we were heading, what this meant," he says. "Going forward I'm going to vow myself that we're going to do better and have an opportunity to discuss with farmers as much as farmers."

Sigurdson says rules around Workers Compensation and Occupational Health and Safety come into effect Jan. 1, but the government will be working with them on an educational model so farmers don't have to be compliant on that first day, they'll probably have until the spring and Occupational Health and Safety will only go onto a farmer's property when there's been a death or serious injury.

The turnout was so large, the meeting had to be moved out into the parking lot at the Best Western Hotel in Okotoks.