Region 7
Region 7 (Alberta) stories and related info on the National Farmers Union website (www.nfu.ca).
Cuts to physician funding devastating for rural Alberta
Rural communities face difficulties in attracting physicians. Getting doctors to set down local roots has been a vital part of creating sustainable rural healthcare. Physicians cannot make this commitment if they do not make enough to pay their bills.
Katie Ward, Stuart Oke in Alberta and BC to speak about climate change
NFU President Katie Ward will be in Alberta February 22 – 24. NFU Youth President Stuart Oke will be in BC February 24 – 28. Stuart’s tour is co-hosted by Young Agrarians. Among other topics, they will be talking about the recent NFU report, Tackling the Farm Crisis and the Climate Crisis: A Transformative
Letter: CGC, mandate to protect farmers’ interests, are essential
Over the past several months, Agriculture Canada and the grain companies, in concert with the current senior staff of the CGC, have been re-writing the Canada Grain Act, mostly behind closed doors . Grain company foxes are advising on how to guard the producers’ hen house.
Growing Alberta’s turkey sector through diversified production for niche markets
The sent the following letter to Alberta Turkey Producers on May 7, 2018: Re: Growing Alberta’s turkey sector through diversified production for niche markets It has come to our attention that the upcoming meeting of the Alberta Turkey Producers Board of Directors may consider reducing the current quota exemption from 300 birds per calendar year produced
“Polluter Pay” principle at stake as Supreme Court hears Redwater Appeal
Red Deer, AB— On February 15, 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear the case, Orphan Well Association, et al. v. Grant Thornton Limited, et al., also known as the Redwater Appeal.
Cattle producers affected by TB quarantine need immediate relief
The National Farmers Union (NFU) urges federal Agriculture Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, and his provincial counterparts, Hon. Oneil Carlier (Alberta) and Hon. Lyle Stewart (Saskatchewan), to provide immediate relief to cattle farmers affected by the expanding quarantine measures required in response to the discovery of Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) infection of six Alberta animals.
Bill 6 Benefits For Farmers Are Far-Reaching
On December 10, 2015, the Alberta Provincial Government passed Bill 6 – the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranching Workers Act. Until this time, farm and ranch employers were not required to register with the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) or provide any form of workplace insurance for employees. The Farming and Ranching Exemption regulation didn’t allow health and safety inspectors to enter or conduct investigations on farms and ranches where people, including children, have been seriously injured or killed. It is estimated that between 1990 and 2015, 9,000 workers have sustained injuries requiring hospitalization and approximately 400 people have lost their lives on Alberta farms and ranches. 65 were children.
Benefits of farmers’ workplace insurance are far-reaching
I have the good fortune of living and working in a rural community and I have also had the privilege of working with individuals and families whose livelihoods depend on farming and ranching. In addition to this, I am proud to be a member of a multigenerational farming family. Over the years I have observed a trend in regard to farm related injuries and the economic and social ramifications for those who are not covered by workplace insurance.
