Landscape Alberta has been invited to participate in the consultations regarding the proposed regulatory changes to employment standards and occupational health & safety rules. The meetings begin in mid-June and continue throughout 2016. Industry focus groups and surveys will commence after the first meetings. Keep an eye out for invitations and surveys so that we can be sure to include your input. This is an important chance to line the nursery, sod and greenhouse production sectors of our industry with the rest of agriculture.

Landscape Alberta was invited to attend consultations on the Alberta governments intended $15 per hour minimum wage by 2018. Given the current economic state and the impact that this can have on farm labour, we are asking the government to extend the timeline for the increases. We've also asked for consideration of a youth or training wage (lower than minimum), or that farms be provided a separate minimum wage. There is also concern about wage inflation, which is those making near or slightly above the proposed minimum wage demanding a relative increase, thus shifting a larger portion of workforce to higher wages. There is currently no formal announcement on an increase, if any, for 2016, but employers will be given at least three months' notice.