Inter-Agency Agriculture Compliance Committee

The Province of British Columbia is committed to ensuring worker safety and enforcing employment standards for all workers, including those in the agricultural sector.

On this page

• Committee mandate
• Members
• Government response to the 2009 Coroner's Inquest Jury Recommendations
• Statistics and meeting minutes

The Inter-Agency Agriculture Compliance Committee was formed in May, 2007 to ensure that the rights and safety of workers in the agriculture sector are protected. Building on the work of industry and several provincial ministries and agencies, the committee focuses on education, prevention, and enforcement. Its terms of reference (PDF, 19KB) include improved information sharing and coordination of enforcement activities.

On December 11, 2007, a Memorandum of Understanding (PDF, 149KB) was signed between the Ministry of Labour (Employment Standards Branch), WorkSafeBC, the Ministry of Transportation (Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement), the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) on behalf of its Member Organizations.

As part of government's continuing commitment to enhance safety for farm workers, the committee is continuing with roadside inspections. The latest statistics related to these inspections are available on a quarterly basis.

Committee mandate

The committee provides leadership and a forum for coordination and collaboration of enforcement activities between the agencies where appropriate. It consolidates data from each agency and facilitates information sharing.

Members

• Employment Standards Branch
• Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Branch
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles
• Police Services Division
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• WorkSafeBC

Government response to the 2009 Coroner's Inquest Jury Recommendations

On March 7, 2007, a van carrying 17 people (16 farmworkers and a driver) was involved in a motor vehicle accident near Abbotsford, B.C. that resulted in the deaths of three workers and injuries to the other 14 occupants.

From December 7 to 11, 2009, the Office of the Chief Coroner held an inquest into the deaths resulting in the jury responding with 18 recommendations affecting various ministries and agencies of the provincial government. These documents provide information about the provincial government's response to the 2009 coroner's recommendations:

• 2009 Coroner's Jury Recommendation Response - English (PDF, 436KB)
• 2009 Coroner's Jury Recommendation Response - Punjabi (PDF, 74KB)

Statistics and meeting minutes