Canada – don’t export Asbestos death

The Canadian Government continues to mine and export asbestos to developing countries. 

The Canadian government continues to support and fund groups such as The Chrysotile Institute – which advocates the continuing usage of asbestos.

Asbestos kills.  Currently it is one of the biggest causes of occupational death in Australia.  By exporting asbestos to developing countries, unions around the world say Canada is condemning hundreds of thousands to a preventable death.

But last week, Canada emerged as the only developed country to oppose the listing of chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention. If approved, the known carcinogen would have been listed in Annex 111 of the hazardous chemicals convention, which would then require exporters to warn recipient countries of any health hazards.

For many Canadians this year Canada Day will be one of embarrassment and disbelief as they grapple with the Canadian Government’s opposition to this listing.

Pat Martin, a member of Canada’s new Democratic Party, summed up the feelings of many Canadians: “Our position is morally and ethically reprehensible.”

Canada refused to give any reason for the blocking of the recommendation to put chrysotile asbestos on the list – even though it agreed with the scientific work of the committee and that chrysotile (white) asbestos meets the criteria for listing.

The hypocrisy of the Canadian government does not go unnoticed in Canada.  As reported by Canada’s Global Post, 28 June 2011: “Critics describe the Canadian government’s position as grossly hypocritical.  They note the government is spending tens of millions of dollars to remove asbestos from public buildings, including schools and the parliament buildings.  Even 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa – the official residence of the prime minister – is being stripped of asbestos.  If Harper doesn’t believe it is safe for him and his family to live with the stuff, why would they oppose warning families in developing countries about its dangers?”

For Canada Day, please send a message to Canadian Prime Minister Harper
 
On national Canada Day I urge you to stop exporting asbestos.  It is deadly, has killed many hundreds of thousands and will kill many more yet.  It’s been widely reported that the Prime Minister’s official residence is being stripped of asbestos containing materials. 

Yet at the recent Conference of the Parties for the United Nations Rotterdam Convention, the Canadian government opposed the listing of chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous substance.  Your government did not oppose the scientific criteria for the listing of a substance or give reasons for your opposition.

The health of workers and their families (wives, partners, mothers, children) in developing countries is no less important than that of Canadian workers and their families.

Please stop this deadly trade and inform the world about the hazards of asbestos.

You can send the above message to:
The Canadian High Commission in Canberra
Commonwealth Avenue
Canberra ACT 2600