Canadian MP Says Country Tarnished by Asbestos

July 25, 2006 - At a recent international conference on asbestos, a member of the Canadian Parliament declared that Canada was acting like “an international pariah” by importing asbestos to Third World countries.

A report in the Ottawa Sun confirmed that Pat Martin, a member of Parliament who hails from Manitoba, told members of the Global Asbestos Ban Conference in Thailand that Canada’s support for the asbestos industry is akin to being a “corporate serial killer.”

"While the rest of the developed world is banning asbestos in all its forms, Canada is busy exporting over 220,000 tons per year into under-developed and Third World countries where health and safety regulations are non-existent or not enforced, thereby exposing millions of ill-informed and unsuspecting people to its hazards," he said.  “Without exaggeration, we are exporting human misery.”

Martin stressed that he would like to see Canada shut down their three existing asbestos mines, located in Quebec.  These mines produce the chrysotile or “white” form of asbestos, believed to be less hazardous than the blue or brown varieties. 

Martin believes that “Canadian officials peddle influence to prevent importing countries from imposing bans and issuing hazardous material warnings.”  He ultimately hopes the Canadian government will ban ALL types of asbestos, close the mines, and offer early retirement or transition packages to workers there. Martin has also urged the government to institute a comprehensive testing and removal program.  However, the country’s Natural Resources minister continues to maintain that white asbestos can be used safely. 

Others, like Martin, however, believe that with the number of class action lawsuits filed against the industry, asbestos mining in Canada has seen its day.