We, the undersigned, express our support for the urgent, inter-jurisdictional action needed to safeguard farmers and farm workers against the worst impacts of the climate crisis. 

Farmers and farm workers are on the frontlines of Canada’s climate crisis.

From life-threatening heatwaves and unpredictable storms, to prolonged periods of drought and wildfire smoke, the challenges posed by extreme weather are escalating. We join the National Farmers Union's (NFU) call for expanded workplace safety regulations, strengthened labor and migration rights, and comprehensive climate action to address the escalating impacts of the climate crisis on agriculture and reduce fatality and injury rates in the sector. 

Policy Context: 

Across the provinces, existing Occupational Health and Safety legislation is inadequate to properly protect outdoor workers from the health impacts of climate change. 

While the provinces are aware of the challenges facing workers, only British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations specifically targeting the hazards of heat stress. While all provincial OHS legislation includes a "general duty clause" which establishes a fundamental duty of employers to ensure workplace safety, relying only on the "general duty clause" means that employers and workers lack the detailed - and enforceable - guidelines necessary to effectively manage specific hazards. This can lead to inconsistent safety practices and increased risk for workers. Specific OHS regulations are essential for ensuring comprehensive and effective protection in the workplace.

None of the provinces have OHS regulations addressing wildfire smoke. 2023 was Canada’s worst recorded year for wildfires, with a documented 18.5 million hectares of land burnt (144% more than the 1989 record of 7.6 million hectares). Canada had 870 poor air quality days collectively between April 1 and September 30 last year. Wildfire smoke exacerbates risk of heat stress and dehydration. Symptoms of smoke exposure can include: cough, sore throat, burning eyes, running nose, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Workers with respiratory conditions, heart conditions, other health conditions, or who are elderly or pregnant are more vulnerable to serious harm from wildfire smoke. Wildfires are a growing concern across the country, yet employers are currently left without clear protocols to follow. 

In addition to inconsistent health and safety regulations, many of the provinces exclude farm workers from basic protections laid out in Employment Standards legislation, such as minimum wage, mandatory rest periods, or the right to unionise. Migrant farm workers are especially vulnerable to extreme heat events—due to both the nature of their work and, for many, their precarious employment status. Without the security of permanent resident status, many fear deportation and retaliation if they speak out against unsafe conditions. 

With increased investments in infrastructure and personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect staff from heat and wildfire smoke, farm employers are footing the bill for Canada’s climate neglect. Floods and fires damage crops and infrastructure, and worker safety regulations, while welcome and necessary, place additional financial burdens on producers.

We, the undersigned, call for the federal government to support farmers while expediting the phase-out of oil and gas tax breaks and subsidies and increasing financial support for farmers and farm workers to address the escalating impacts of the climate crisis on the agricultural sector and reduce fatality and injury rates in the sector. 

In 2022, the federal government spent over $6 billion CAD in subsidies for the oil & gas industry. Instead of subsidising industries that are contributing to extreme weather events, the federal government must release funds immediately to (a) help agricultural employers meet the labour and infrastructure challenges of the climate crisis and (b) support producers to adapt to climate change.

Our Demands:

1. Workplace Safety

2. Labour and Migration Rights 

3. Climate Action

see "Our Demands" hyperlinked above for more details.