Agriculture Policy

The Alberta Liberal Caucus believes in the small family farm – our policies would promote these operations, rather than focusing exclusively on international corporate farms.

We recognize the need to protect our Agricultural Land from development. Our province, like much of Canada, is rapidly losing our most valuable and most productive agriculture land to development and fragmentation, and it is essential that we restrict these losses though effective land use planning.
We are focused on the advancement of new technologies and new ways of farming that will ensure that our agriculture industries remain competitive, while also encouraging value-added agriculture business. These new technologies need to be available, and affordable, for all farmers in Alberta, right down to the small family producer. This will keep our agricultural sector not only competitive, but at the forefront of agri-business internationally.
We will encourage vegetable and fruit production for local markets; establish a provincial organic certification agency; and encourage and support the growing and marketing of organic products.
The Alberta Liberal Caucus has long advocated for changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect paid farm workers while continuing to exempt family members and other unpaid labourers. Alberta is behind the rest of the country when it comes to the exclusion of farm workers from labour laws. It is time to give paid farm workers the rights that they have been denied for so many years.
The Alberta Liberal Caucus is committed to implementing the most advanced food safety regulations across the province. It is essential that our province has food safety standards, regulations, and monitoring systems that put us as the forefront internationally to maintain a competitive advantage.

Agriculture Responses & Questions

07 December 2011

Farm Worker Exemptions from Labour Legislation (December 6)

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s now exactly one year since two farm workers were electrocuted on the job east of Edmonton. No occupational health service, no fatality review has been done, nor were they done on the two other electrocutions in the past four years on farms.

23 March 2011

Labour Protection for Paid Farm Workers (March 22, 2011)

Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A trucking company employee is in serious condition in hospital after machinery he was operating hit an overhead power line in Wetaskiwin on Saturday.

15 March 2011

Farm Worker Safety (March 14, 2011)

Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The former member probably looked at my questions because this is an excellent segue.

25 November 2010

Labour Protection for Paid Farm Workers (November 24)

Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, a full year since the farm safety record report was completed, its release yesterday came with an announcement of yet another round of consultations but no action to give paid farm workers rights under the Occupational Health and Safety Act or to provide paid farm workers with mandatory WCB coverage.

24 November 2010

Sale of Public Land for Commercial Use (November 23)

Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Food security is a growing issue internationally, and Alberta is not free of its challenges.

22 April 2010

Water Allocation (April 21)

Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Albertaâ€™s water allocation system is out of date.

13 April 2010

Agricultural Rail Services (April 12)

Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Rail lines are essential for the success of Albertaâ€™s agriculture industry and the sustainability of our rural way of life, but the cost of agricultural rail services is steep.

25 March 2010