Québec Liberals, Harper Tories & Bloc stick by deadly asbestos

As Quebec Premier Jean Charest embarked on a trade mission to India this January, over a hundred scientists from 28 countries sent him a letter, appealing to him to put public health ahead of trade. They pointed out that:

• Quebec does not use the asbestos it mines but instead exports it to the developing world;
• Quebec is paying millions of dollars to remove asbestos from buildings to protect its own citizens;
• Quebec health authorities oppose the government’s pro-asbestos policy;
• Quebec itself is experiencing an epidemic of asbestos-related disease; and
• Quebec’s export of asbestos brings dishonour on the international reputation of Quebec.

In India, Charest was met by protestors in Mumbai and in Delhi. Workers showed the bags of Quebec’s LAB Chrysotile asbestos that they had handled in the past. Many of the workers are now suffering from asbestos-related diseases. They asked to meet with Charest, but he refused. There was a great deal of media coverage of the appeal by the international scientific community and by the victims of asbestos in India for Quebec to stop exporting asbestos and to stop giving developing countries misinformation that asbestos can be safely used. For the first time, a Quebec political party (Québec Solidaire, which has one member in the National Assembly) called for an end to Quebec’s export of asbestos. It put forward a motion in the National Assembly for an inquiry into the asbestos issue. The motion was supported by Le Parti Québecois, but the government opposed it and it was defeated.

With the Liberal Party of Canada confirming its official position - to end asbestos mining, use and export – the Conservative Party is the only national political party that continues to support asbestos.  MORE »