| Liberals call for creation of new protected areas
The Alberta Liberals say the creation of a new provincial park that will protect land along the Bow River is a great step, but they are urging the government to go farther and preserve more sensitive landscapes in southern Alberta.
On August 23, the provincial government announced the creation of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, that will protect 3,426 acres of land along the Bow River between Calgary and Cochrane. The land was formerly a ranch owned by the Harvie family. It was valued at $80 million, but the family sold it to the government for $40 million in order to honour the late Neil Harvie’s wish that the land be protected from future development. The park won’t be open to the public for another year.
Calgary MLA Harry Chase says he’s "thrilled" about the new park, but says he’d also like to see the provincial government create a new park near Bragg Creek, called Moose Mountain Wildland Park, to protect the Elbow River watershed from logging and other industrial development. Chase would also like to see a park in the Castle Wilderness area of southern Alberta, which is adjacent to Waterton National Park. Environmentalists have been fighting for decades to get more protection for the Castle region. After renowned Alberta writer and conservationist Andy Russell died there was a push to have a park in the area named after him.
Farm workers need more protection, says Swann
Calgary MLA David Swann says the human rights of farm workers in Alberta are being violated because they’re offered no workplace safety protection under Alberta legislation.
Currently farm employees are not covered by occupational health and safety standards or by workers’ compensation.
The issue has received widespread media attention since the death of Kevan Chandler who was killed two months ago in a grain silo at the feedlot where he worked near Black Diamond, leaving his family financially destitute.
Swann says farm operations currently aren’t required to offer safety training or safety equipment to farm workers and if they are injured or die there’s no financial compensation for the worker or family.
"(Chandler) died of an entirely predictable and preventable accident that would not have happened if there had been occupational health and safety standards," says Swann.
Swann says he doesn’t think small farms that only employ family members should have to be included under occupational health and safety standards and workers’ compensation, but they should apply to larger farm operations that employ outside workers.
"Government needs to work with the farming and ranching community to find out what is necessary to bring us into the 21st century and honour the human rights of these workers," says Swann. "Stop treating them like second-class citizens."
Alberta is one of only two provinces in the country that doesn’t include farm workers in occupational health and safety standards. Swan says a provincial government report done in 2002 recommended including farm workers under provincial occupational health and safety regulations, but the government has never acted on the recommendations. |
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