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Some of the protesters at the legislature said they were not able to attend the nine consultation meetings organized by the government.

Rally organizer Sara Wheale, 20, grew up on a farm near Breton, southwest of Edmonton, and is now raising her own purebred Hereford cattle. The government is trying to “pull the wool over our eyes and not paint us a clear picture as to what they’re doing with this bill,” she said.

On Friday, up to 200 protesters — with two miniature horses and a turkey along for the ride — demanded the government halt Bill 6, which would bring the province’s 43,000 farms and ranches under occupational health and safety standards.

Labour Minister Lori Sigurdson and Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee ventured into the crowd, and received an earful from protesters, who said the government didn’t do enough to solicit feedback before introducing the bill.

Sigurdson said later in a written statement the bill achieves “two simple things”: It would allow farm employees to refuse dangerous work and would provide compensation for workplace injuries or deaths.

Other regulations will only be drafted after consultations are completed, she said.

“Statutory protection of farm and ranch employees and the preservation of family farm traditions are complementary goals of Bill 6,” she said.

Many who attended Friday’s rally said the impending legislation could fundamentally change how small-scale family farms operate because they’re lumped in with corporate producers under the bill.