Farm Group Questions UCP Plan To Repeal Bill 6

The Alberta Federation of Agriculture doesn't think repealing the farm safety legislation Bill 6 is a good move.

Federation President, Lynn Jacobson, who says they've been lobbying for 20 years to get decent coverage for producers and farm workers. thinks they should just focus on improving existing legislation.

"The trouble is when you start giving people choices between workman's comp and private insurance, the inequities really start to shine out. One issue is the liability issues that are taken care of under WCB and are not addressed under private insurance."

The United Conservative Party plans to scrap the legislation and put in a new Act which will let employers choose if they want to buy insurance from the market or the Workers Compensation Board (WCB).

Jacobson attributes some of the difficulty attracting farm workers was a lack of coverage.

As far as scrapping the carbon tax, the Federation isn't sold on the UCP's plan with no alternative approach to climate change.

However, Jacobson says this doesn't mean they are in favour of the levy.

"It's one method that's been proposed of mitigating climate change. We're very interested in seeing what other people have to say too, and so far there has not been any other plans put forward at this point in time."

Jacobson says there's also concern about what will happen to the carbon trading program.

He says the organization congratulates UCP Leader, Jason Kenney, on his victory and is waiting to see who will be named the new Ag Minister as they'll be working closely on industry issues.