“I was flabbergasted,” said a mother in the western province of Saskatchewan after learning her family was being investigated with regards to children working on their farm.
Canada has strict laws to prevent child labour but farm kids in traditional farming operations are exempt from most of those laws. Many farm families have their children do chores outside of school hours.
However children under the age of 16 are not allowed to operate motorized farm equipment, handle dangerous chemicals, or work in a meat processing plant. It’s the last point that is currently under investigation.
Children are safe, says mom
Two of Janeen Colvin’s children are involved in every step of their free-range chicken operation, including slaughter and butchering functions. Emma is eight years old and Kate is 10.
Colvin says their processing operation is low-tech and the children are very good and safe with knives. The Colvin’s also frequently employ local teenagers under the age of 16 in their butcher shop.
After investigating, officials will determine whether they can continue to use help from children. The Colvins acknowledge they may be violating the law in paying under 16s to butcher, but say they will challenge any limitations on their own children’s ability to be part of the family farm. Said Janeen Colvin, “Our whole farm vision was to include our kids.”
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