Date set for ag worker labour law hearing Thursday, June 25, 2009 © AgMedia Inc.by SUSAN MANNThe Supreme Court of Canada has tentatively set Dec. 17 as the date to hear arguments concerning Ontario farm workers’ rights to bargain collectively.Stan Raper, spokesman for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Canada, says they’re happy the court has agreed to accept submissions on two questions. The Union will argue Ontario’s Agricultural Employees Protection Act is unconstitutional because it prohibits collective bargaining and that impinges on farm workers’ rights to associate.Raper says a Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2007 involving hospital workers in British Columbia made it clear that the ‘freedom to associate’ section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes the ability to bargain collectively.The other question centres on people’s right to equality under the law. “No individual should be treated differently based on a number of factors,” such as sex or gender, he notes. The Union is arguing this should also include occupation and Ontario’s farm workers shouldn’t be excluded from the province’s Labour Relations Act just because of their job.Ontario’s Attorney General is defending the Act. Sherry Persaud, spokesperson for Ontario Agriculture Minister Leona Drombowsky, says since the case is before the courts “it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”As an intervener, the agricultural industry’s Labour Issues Coordinating Committee will be arguing “the same old thing about the uniqueness of agriculture and all that kind of stuff,” says chair Ken Forth. “It’s the same old story from 20 years ago. Nothing’s changed.”Raper says the hearing is expected to take one day and it’ll be two to six months for the decision to be released. “We anticipate a strong ruling with some direct orders for (Premier Dalton McGuinty) to get off the pot and move this piece finally.”Ultimately the Union wants Ontario to include farm workers in the provincial Labour Relations Act with the right to bargain collectively and strike. It doesn’t want another separate labour act just for farm workers. BF Pigeon King escalated to 'criminal investigation' Municipal Board gives go-ahead to Solaris project in East Hawkesbury
Stinger Spade Bits kit from Spyder Friday, September 20, 2024 By Braxteen Breen, Whether you are constructing/repairing fencing and other structures around the farm, you can get those tasks completed on the farm quickly with the Stinger Spade Bits kit from Spyder. The Spade Bits kit provides an economical solution for someone who wants to make... Read this article online
$18.4M Boost for Canadian Cereal Grain Innovation Thursday, September 19, 2024 Gate Project Receives Major Funding for Research Canada's position as a pioneer in cereal grain research is set to strengthen with the Gate Capital Campaign raising $18.4 million. This funding will support the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) initiative, a project... Read this article online
BASF introduces Surtain herbicide for field corn growers Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Field corn growers in eastern Canada have a new crop protection product available to them. After about 10 years of research and trials, BASF has introduced Surtain, a residual herbicide for corn that combines PPO inhibitor saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in a premix... Read this article online
We Didn’t Start the Fire! Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Corn Monday, September 16, 2024 Assistant Professor of Corn Production at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Daniel Quinn, PhD. recently provided fascinating insights into the impacts of fire on major corn producing areas, many of which have been impacted by smoke from wildfires. Quinn was the keynote... Read this article online
New home for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Saturday, September 14, 2024 The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) has announced it has moved into its new office building in Ingersoll. Located at 274620 27th Line in Ingersoll, the new office will serve as the hub for CFFO’s ongoing efforts to advocate for and support Ontario’s Christian farmers.... Read this article online