Leadership debates illustrative of right versus left divide

Editor:

Danielle Smith, leader of the Wildrose Party, and Brian Mason, leader of Alberta’s NDP are travelling around Alberta, taking part in debates billed as Right vs. Left. On their Medicine Hat College stop this duelling duo was asked, “Do you support the Alberta Federation of Agriculture’s call for child labour legislation and mandatory WCB for agriculture workers, if not why not?”

Brian Mason emphatically stated his support of the AFA and went on to describe how paid farm workers in Alberta are excluded from labour standards including Health & Safety and child labour standards, calling it an appalling situation. Smith ignored the child labour issue and mused on how the private sector could step in instead of WCB, but nothing mandatory. She suggests perhaps Farmworkers could buy their own workplace insurance, instead of employer funded WCB.  A clear illustration of the difference between right and left.

Eric Musekamp

Farmworkers Union of Alberta, president.