LETHBRIDGE — Some Alberta politicians think a call by a Liberal member of the province’s legislature for Frito-Lay to boycott Alberta potatoes is half-baked.
David Swann made the unusual call last week to pressure the Alberta government to deal with the issue of child labour on farms and the extension of workplace health and safety regulations to farm workers.
Opposition Wildrose M-L-A Gary Bikman says Swann doesn’t understand the need for young family members having to work occasional long hours on a farm when conditions are optimal.
Progressive Conservative M-L-A Greg Weadick says it’s unbelievable for Swann to call for a boycott of an Alberta product.
The Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research says the rate of children killed in agriculture-related accidents between 1992 and 2009 increased even though the overall number of children in the past two decades dropped.
Potato Growers of Alberta chair Rob Van Roessel says the organization has led the way in Alberta with on-farm food safety protocols, and supports more safety training for workers.