A recent propane explosion in Toronto that scattered asbestos for blocks brought to light the extent of asbestos contamination throughout Canada and the lack of government funding to address the issue, notes an article in The Canadian Press.

Canada doesn’t track asbestos-related disease among its residents nor are there any national foundations or associations that serve as advocates for those who’ve developed asbestos-related diseases. Those who know the truth about Canada’s asbestos problem, however, hope the handling of the recent explosion will demonstrate the lack of resources available to Canadians when it comes to addressing the dangers of the toxic mineral.

“I think if the Canadian public really knew the extent of harm that asbestos has caused, I think there would be an outrage over what the federal government is doing,” said Jim Brophy, global asbestos expert and former director of the Occupational Health and Safety Clinics for Ontario Workers.

“I cannot describe to you the public health epidemic that unfolded before us and is still happening,” Brophy said in regards to the explosion and the subsequent asbestos contamination that followed.

In addition, Brophy points out, workers are currently removing chrysotile asbestos from the country’s Parliament buildings to the tune of $1 billion dollars and hundreds of thousands of houses in Canada still contain dangerous Zonolite insulation.

“We’re probably the only industrialized country not tracking the extent of [asbestos-related] disease and its impact on our society,” said Brophy, noting that most of the commercial buildings in Canada constructed before 1980 also contain asbestos.

MP Pat Martin says the government’s overseas promotion of asbestos, processed at its Quebec mines, is why officials keep health risks under the radar.

“Certainly the government will not support anything that may be viewed as critical of asbestos when they’re the chief cheerleaders for the asbestos industry,” said Martin.

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