Author: Kyla Hardon

The Consultation Process

Statistics Canada has begun preparations for the 2021 Census of Agriculture. As a first step, Statistics Canada asks data users and other interested parties across Canada to share their views on how they use Census of Agriculture data and the type of information they believe should be collected. The goal of the 2021 consultation process is to confirm information needs, identify data gaps, understand potential emerging agricultural issues, and establish data priorities while balancing respondent burden and cost.

How to get involved

If you wish to be involved in providing information for consideration for the 2021 Census of Agriculture, please contact us by email by August 1^st, 2017 at

statcan.ceag-contentconsultationreag-consultationpourladeterminationducontenu.statcan@canada.ca

You will then receive further information on the consultation process and be provided with a discussion questionnaire containing several proposed changes for 2021 and a submission form for your comments to complete by mid-October 2017.

Consultation workshops will be conducted across Canada beginning the week of September 11^th, 2017. During the week of September 18^th, 2017, Statistics Canada will also be hosting Webinar sessions that you can join by teleconference or WebEx.

While participation in the consultation process is voluntary, the information you provide will help Statistics Canada to meet data needs and take into consideration emerging social and economic issues related to the agriculture sector. Your input will be carefully reviewed and will assist in determining content for the 2021 Census of Agriculture.

Statistics Canada is committed to respecting the privacy of consultation participants. All personal information created, held or collected by the Agency is protected by the Privacy Act. For more information on Statistics Canada’s privacy policies, please consult the Privacy notice.

Anonymized comments collected during the consultation process may be published in the 2021 Census of Agriculture Content Consultation Report available on the Statistics Canada website in fall 2019.

Data users who have participated in the past by attending a workshop or submitting a written proposal include:

Please note also that Statistics Canada will be presenting an overview of the 2021 consultation process during a half-hour Webinar (WebEx presentation) Tuesday July 11^th, 2017 (1:00PM EST in English, 2:00PM EST in French). You are encouraged to join us by teleconference and WebEx.

To connect to this presentation:

Login to WebEx –

https://gts-ee.webex.com/gts-ee/j.php?MTID=m38c86c77392cc26f5202e9df12bba8e0

1. If requested, enter your name and email address.
2. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: Agriculture
3. Click “Join”.

Teleconference –
Toll-free Dial-in number: 1-877-413-4788
Local Dial-in number:  1-613-960-7513
Conference ID: 993 380 2

Statistics Canada would appreciate your help in forwarding this invitation to the appropriate persons in your organization who may wish to participate in the process of identifying data requirements and provide content suggestions. We invite you and members of your organization to participate to the 2021 consultation process and look forward to hearing from you.

Allison Nelson,
on behalf of the 2021 Census of Agriculture Content Determination Team.

To stay in line with industry and student demand, Olds College is increasing the capacity of its Horticulture programs. In 2016, the program received 83 total applications with a capacity of 30 students. In 2017, student capacity will be expanded to 50 available seats.

Olds College has offered programs within the Horticulture field for over 50 years, exploring the production and management of plants, the management of pests, landscapes, soils and water systems to achieve productive and sustainable systems.

“Olds College has a history of offering programs that reflect the importance that we place on the world around us,” explains Dr. Jason Dewling, Vice President of Academic and Research. “Sustainability, water management, production horticulture and urban agriculture are all areas that are seeing significant growth in interest, and as experts in the field it is our responsibility to ensure that we have enough spaces available to students to meet industry demands.”

The College offers three Horticulture designations – a Horticulture Technician Certificate, presented after the first year of study, a Horticulture Technologist Diploma after the second year of study, and a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree after four years.

“Olds College’s Horticulture program is unique, with a blended curriculum of online delivery, face to face inquiry based learning, hands-on learning, to go along with industry field schools,” explains Dalin Bullock, Dean of Animal Sciences and Horticulture. “Graduates will be prepared to apply their knowledge and skills in the areas of horticulture crops, landscape design, construction and maintenance.”

The decision to increase the capacity of the Horticulture program comes on the heels of the College’s announcement of the establishment of an increase in the College’s Agricultural Management program, reflecting the increased need for skilled and knowledgeable in these key programs.

“Sustainability, water management, production horticulture, and urban agriculture are vital elements of the world in which we live,” explains Bullock. “Increasing the availability of seats in these programs reflects the growth in the Agriculture and Horticulture industries, and we will continue to see this growth as the demand for food continues to escalate due to population growth and potential environmental factors.”

Applications for the 2017 intake for the Horticulture Technician Certificate are still being accepted, but space is limited, so students interested in the program are urged to apply early.

The Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association along with Landscape Alberta and Alberta Agriculture & Forestry will be hosting a webinar for information on the AGRP as we approach the first application opening on July 1st. More info on AGRP can be found here.

Drew Hiltz and Arvind Cheniveerappan from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry will be leading participants through the program guidelines and the application process answering any questions or concerns about how to apply and what qualifies under the AGRP.

Arvind is the Greenhouse Rebate Program Specialist for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and the Government of Alberta. Arvind has worked progressively as a horticulturist in India, Ethiopia, USA and now in Alberta, Canada. With an MBA and 17 years of experience and knowledge, he is well versed with the project and business management of the greenhouse production industry. Drew is the Manager of the Rural Initiatives Unit for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Drew is passionate about rural development working in the field under various capacities throughout his career in private, public and not-for-profit environments.

For AGGA and Landscape Alberta members the webinar will be recorded and made available for re-watch at any time.

The Webinar is June 7 2017, at 11:00 am MT. 

Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/6488263480

Or iPhone one-tap:

    +1(587)3164436, 6488263480# Calgary, AB

    +1(780)6669719, 6488263480# Edmonton, AB

 Or Telephone:

    +1 (587) 316 4436 Calgary, AB

    +1 (780) 666 9719 Edmonton, AB

    Meeting ID: 648 826 3480

At least five minutes ahead of the meeting ensure you have downloaded the Ring Central Meetings app – https://success.ringcentral.com/RCSupportPortalDownloads  and then call in at the appointed time.  Participation is limited to the 50 people – please register early to ensure you have a space. https://doodle.com/poll/pdxfmtn8sd4izq2d

Download presentation here.

View webinar here.

We are looking for Landscape Alberta member volunteers to plant beds and spread mulch on Friday, June 23, 2017.

Landscape Alberta was again invited to sit on the Landscape Standards review committee for 2017.  Along with members of UDI and City staff from various departments, the group reviews issues and suggests changes to the Landscape Standards. The City in the end has final say on all changes but are open to modification based on our feedback as stakeholders. This year there were very few changes to the landscape standard. There is the release of a new draft Top Soil specification that will come in to effect July 1, 2018.  All other changes take effect July 1 of this year.  Please note the changes take effect on projects tendered and bid after the effective date. The standards in place at the time of approval and /or work are the standards that apply to that job.

Highlights of changes include:

• Identification of tree trenches on all drawings
• Updated detail (LA101) for enhanced Tree Protection Zone
• Increased setback to 6.0 m from field of play on sports fields and added requirement for top soil inspection at time of install for sports fields
• Project Manager or consultant must now provide maintenance records for sports fields
• Grasses in naturalized areas must maintain a minimum height of 100-150 mm during establishment
• Median are now considered a possible site for naturalization and will not require a mowed buffer strip
• Changed seed mix for non-maintained naturalized areas. It will be significantly more expensive with full understanding that this will be adjusted for in project bidding
• CCC inspection season is approximated at June 1^st to October 15^th, with a new clause that “considerable snow coverage will result in immediate end of inspection season”
• This same new wording also applies to FAC with original time lines in place
• Streamlined the inspection timelines to be initiated within 30 days of Parks Pre-Screen approval.
• Contractors must now provide maintenance logs for the period between CCC and FAC.
• A contractor wishing to apply a pesticide on City property or property that is in the possession of the developer and has not yet received FAC, must first submit a completed Contractor Pesticide Use Notification Form to the appropriate service area. This must be sent at least 48 hours (not including weekends and holidays) prior, and be acknowledged by an email confirmation before conducting the treatment. If no response within two business days, the contractor may proceed. Please submit only one site per form. The Contractor Pesticide Use Notification Form may be found on the City of Edmonton website: http://edmonton.ca/business_economy/selling_to_the_city/contractor-pesticide-use-notification-form.aspx
• Updated reference to current edition of Canadian Standards for Nursery Stock, available free to members at https://cnla.ca/training/cnss/

The top soil specifications will be undergoing a stakeholder review in the coming months with Landscape Alberta hosting a focus group session.  We will also be working with the City of Edmonton on a training/standards manual for landscape and tree inspections in an effort to improve consistency of inspections.

Summary of Changes

https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/Design_and_Construction_Landscaping.pdf 

Last week the Alberta Government introduced Bill 17, the Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act to update the employment standards and labour relations acts.  Highlights include;

• Changes to how banked hours’ work. Under the new legislation hours must be banked at 1.5 times hours worked essentially removing the benefit of banking over straight overtime.  Increased banked time from 3 months to 6 months.
• Enhanced protected leave status for many categories including maternity, compassionate care, and family leaves. Reduced the eligibility for leave to 90 days of employment.  New Personal and Family Responsibility of 5 days per year as unpaid time off, but with protected status.  This covers personal sickness, short-term care of family, or school events of a child.
• Compressed work weeks would now be called Averaging Agreements and would allow for 1 to 12 week averages to determine overtime eligibility.
• Rest periods would now be a minimum 30-minute break (paid or un-paid) for every 5 hours of consecutive employment. With employer and employee agreement, these can be split to two-15 minute breaks.
• All employees would be eligible for general holiday pay, removing regular vs non-regular work day. It would be calculated at 5% of wages from previous 4 weeks.
• Vacation pay to be set at 4% or 2 weeks until 5 years’ employment and will rise 6% afterwards. Half-day vacation increments now allowed up from minimum of 1 day.
• Termination and layoff notices will now require more notice. For 50-100 employees: 8 weeks, 101-30 employees: 12 weeks, and 301+ employees: 16 weeks.
• Nurseries, greenhouses and sod farms will continue to not be considered farms under the Employment Standard Code (we have requested an explanation from the Minister).
• Easing of rules/regulations around formation of a union. This includes automatic certification when more than 65% of employees sign a union card or petition and that the first contract can be arbitrated if an agreement can’t be reached.

There are several areas of concern for members.  First, the change to banked hours’ program is especially impactful to seasonal (weather dependent) businesses.  The removal of this option will equally effect both employees and employers. The new Averaging Agreements might provide some relief, but it is too early to tell without the exact regulations in place. The removal of secret ballot requirement for formation of a union (still applies to 40-65% of employees voting in favour) is a cause for a concern as it removes democratic rights from the process.

Landscape Alberta will be communicating with the Minister of Labour directly over the coming weeks.  We will also help provide resources regarding the changes in a way for employers to best update their own policies and practices. The new rules and regulations are anticipated to take effect January 1, 2018.

For more info on the changes, visit Employment Standards or Labour Relations.

The next test date in Alberta is August 18-19, 2017 at Olds College campus. A summer test means candidates can use the season’s field experience to build skills toward their success on test day. It also means we can offer the Turf Maintenance Technician test without mowing snow! Get the ball rolling – register today by contacting Jason Young, Certification Co-ordinator at CNLA: jason@cnla-acpp.ca, or call toll-free 1-888-446-3499 ext. 8620.