Farm groups unimpressed with WCB plans

Two farm groups on P.E.I. are concerned about plans to cover farm workers under the Workers Compensation Board, and how that change might come about.

'We certainly won't co-operate if they're not willing to take consultations seriously.' — Ranald MacFarlane, National Farmers Union

Ian McIsaac, director of the P.E.I Federation of Agriculture, told CBC News on Wednesday he doesn't want to see farmers forced into paying workers compensation coverage. The rates are too high for farmers, he said, and those who want coverage already have it.
 
"I don't want to see this forced down employers' throats," said McIsaac.

"It's a risk, running a business, and I think people who chose to run their own business should be able to make their own decisions. Yes, there is a need to have coverage, but I don't think workers compensation is the only type of coverage out there."

The province has said it will consult with industry before making any changes, but Ranald MacFarlane, P.E.I's National Farmers Union representative, doubts consultations with farmers will be taken seriously. MacFarlane said that for years farmers have asked the province for more control over regulations, and it has fallen on deaf ears. He doubts the province will start to listen now.

"I just don't think there's any political responsibility to listen to us," he said.

"That's been my experience in the past. And we certainly won't co-operate if they're not willing to take consultations seriously."

Two years ago, the NFU asked government to set up a panel of farmers to review all health and safety regulations before they're passed, but MacFarlane said that never happened.

MacFarlane said he hadn't yet read the full WCB report, so he hadn't formed a specific opinion on the proposal itself.

The report recommends both farm and fishing operations should fall under the WCB.