CTV 2011 Federal Election | PM defends his support of asbestos industry
Prime Minister Stephen Harper used his stop in Asbestos, Que. Tuesday to trumpet his government's support for the much-maligned asbestos mining industry that the community is built on.
"The only party that defends the chrysotile industry is our party; the Conservative party," Harper said in French, using the term for white asbestos that industry supporters prefer.
As the Conservatives battle for every possible seat in Quebec, they are fixing their sights on the riding of Richmond-Athabaska, in Quebec's Eastern Townships, which is currently held by the Bloc Quebecois.
They're also hoping to hold on to neighbouring Megantic-L'Erable, which is home to another asbestos operation in Thetford Mines.
Harper spent Tuesday unabashedly boosting the industry, insisting asbestos can be used safely, even as his government's support has come under fierce criticism at home and abroad.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen whose use and sale is highly restricted in Canada. The mineral is exported from Canada to developing countries, however, with the support of the federal government and taxpayers.
Harper was asked whether the experience of Transport Minister Chuck Strahl had any influence on his government's support of the industry. Strahl was diagnosed with incurable mesothelioma in 2005 as a result of inhaling asbestos fibres in his younger years.
Harper did not mention Strahl's battle with cancer in his response. He said a majority Conservative government would not roll back current restrictions in this country.
"We have no plans to do that," while added that chrysotile asbestos "is permitted internationally under conditions of safe and controlled use."
"Canada is one of a number of exporters of chrysotile and there are many countries in which it is legal who are buyers," Harper said.
"This government will not put Canadian industry in a position where it is discriminated against in a market where sale is permitted."
The Conservative government's support for the industry has been widely criticized. Taxpayer dollars are used to help fund the Chrysotile Institute, an industry lobby group that promotes the use of the asbestos around the world.
In an open letter to the prime minister, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment said Canada is defending a morally bankrupt and economically failing industry.
"We call on you to put people's lives ahead of politics," Dr. Kapil Khatter said in the release.
"Canada's leading medical authorities have all told you that the export of asbestos is medically and morally indefensible and will lead to an epidemic of asbestos-related disease and death overseas."
The Rideau Institute also released a letter on behalf of a coalition of more than 20 environmental and union groups Tuesday, urging Harper to halt his support of the industry.
In the letter, Christian Simard, executive director of Nature Quebec, said Canada's promotion of the deadly export is inexcusable.
"Public policy should be based on science, not on politics," Simard said.
"The science is indisputable that all forms of asbestos are deadly. Not a single reputable authority supports (Prime Minister) Harper's policy that asbestos can be safely used."
Ruff said in the letter that Canada's international reputation is suffering due to Harper's refusal to acknowledge that scientific evidence.
"Canada is becoming known as an immoral asbestos pusher and as an enemy of global public health. This is not the role Canadians want to play in the world," she said.
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My wife's father passed away a month after we married from mesothelioma from working at a phone company where his job was to lay out phone cables through ceilings of offices that were loaded with asbestos and there's a very large class action suit amongst the families who've lost loved ones over the years from working similar jobs where they were exposed to asbestos. Back when he worked in those areas, the government of Australia knew damn well how dangerous asbestos was and yet they did nothing to ensure the safety & well being of people who worked near this crap..... thus the lawsuit.
It's no longer used here in Australia and there are strict regulations and guidelines on how one goes about detecting & removing any known asbestos in their homes or offices due to how dangerous this crap is.
I didn't think Harper could sink any lower then he has, but to even promote the continued production & trade of any kind of asbestos, even when all experts tell him there is absolutely no way to work with the stuff in a healthy manner, is beyond low.... it's drops well below disgust.
It doesn't matter if it's traded in 1st, 2nd or 3rd world nations, the stuff is friggin deadly...... and to only sell it in 3rd world nations?
Does Harper actually think 3rd World Nations have the resources and know-how to use asbestos in a way that will ensure the safety of the people in those countries working & living around that stuff? Many developed nations simply refuse to touch the stuff..... so what does that tell you about 3rd World Nations?
That they're behind the times, that they need a product that's cheap, regardless of how dangerous it is...... and that Harper is willing to take advantage of that situation in order to gain some profit from these countries at their own people's expense and a few extra votes against the Bloc in Quebec.... regardless of what all the experts tell him.
Don't forget.... Harper is always right.... he always knows best, and he always knows more then those who spend their whole careers dealing with such things every day of their lives & see it all first hand.
Harper just passes it all off, continually dismisses anything he doesn't like to hear and tells everybody to just listen to him..... He Knows All!
Now we can add another title to Harper..... "The Peddler of Death"
Am I exaggerating?
Show me where I am
Am I biased?
You're damn right I am, but I don't have to be for any of the above to be the truth and fact.
Harper finger-pointed at Layton for trying to peddle votes in Quebec by possibly opening up the Constitution some time down the road..... yet what does he call what he's saying above? At least suggesting opening up the Constitution later down the road won't directly cost the lives of thousands of people or more.
Oh I forgot.... the people in 3rd world nations are not the same as us, their value & their lives are not as important as our own. So long as Harper gains an extra seat & possibly gain some extra profit, they're expendable.
Added:
One thing I did find a bit funny was that on the CTV news link above, there were so many outraged and angry comments towards Harper over this, that CTV closed the comment section so no more comments could be made.
Doesn't surprise me though.... CTV is a Conservative supporting news source & they can't have that stuff happening.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper used his stop in Asbestos, Que. Tuesday to trumpet his government's support for the much-maligned asbestos mining industry that the community is built on.
"The only party that defends the chrysotile industry is our party; the Conservative party," Harper said in French, using the term for white asbestos that industry supporters prefer.
As the Conservatives battle for every possible seat in Quebec, they are fixing their sights on the riding of Richmond-Athabaska, in Quebec's Eastern Townships, which is currently held by the Bloc Quebecois.
They're also hoping to hold on to neighbouring Megantic-L'Erable, which is home to another asbestos operation in Thetford Mines.
Harper spent Tuesday unabashedly boosting the industry, insisting asbestos can be used safely, even as his government's support has come under fierce criticism at home and abroad.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen whose use and sale is highly restricted in Canada. The mineral is exported from Canada to developing countries, however, with the support of the federal government and taxpayers.
Harper was asked whether the experience of Transport Minister Chuck Strahl had any influence on his government's support of the industry. Strahl was diagnosed with incurable mesothelioma in 2005 as a result of inhaling asbestos fibres in his younger years.
Harper did not mention Strahl's battle with cancer in his response. He said a majority Conservative government would not roll back current restrictions in this country.
"We have no plans to do that," while added that chrysotile asbestos "is permitted internationally under conditions of safe and controlled use."
"Canada is one of a number of exporters of chrysotile and there are many countries in which it is legal who are buyers," Harper said.
"This government will not put Canadian industry in a position where it is discriminated against in a market where sale is permitted."
The Conservative government's support for the industry has been widely criticized. Taxpayer dollars are used to help fund the Chrysotile Institute, an industry lobby group that promotes the use of the asbestos around the world.
In an open letter to the prime minister, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment said Canada is defending a morally bankrupt and economically failing industry.
"We call on you to put people's lives ahead of politics," Dr. Kapil Khatter said in the release.
"Canada's leading medical authorities have all told you that the export of asbestos is medically and morally indefensible and will lead to an epidemic of asbestos-related disease and death overseas."
The Rideau Institute also released a letter on behalf of a coalition of more than 20 environmental and union groups Tuesday, urging Harper to halt his support of the industry.
In the letter, Christian Simard, executive director of Nature Quebec, said Canada's promotion of the deadly export is inexcusable.
"Public policy should be based on science, not on politics," Simard said.
"The science is indisputable that all forms of asbestos are deadly. Not a single reputable authority supports (Prime Minister) Harper's policy that asbestos can be safely used."
Ruff said in the letter that Canada's international reputation is suffering due to Harper's refusal to acknowledge that scientific evidence.
"Canada is becoming known as an immoral asbestos pusher and as an enemy of global public health. This is not the role Canadians want to play in the world," she said.
-----------------------------------------------------
My wife's father passed away a month after we married from mesothelioma from working at a phone company where his job was to lay out phone cables through ceilings of offices that were loaded with asbestos and there's a very large class action suit amongst the families who've lost loved ones over the years from working similar jobs where they were exposed to asbestos. Back when he worked in those areas, the government of Australia knew damn well how dangerous asbestos was and yet they did nothing to ensure the safety & well being of people who worked near this crap..... thus the lawsuit.
It's no longer used here in Australia and there are strict regulations and guidelines on how one goes about detecting & removing any known asbestos in their homes or offices due to how dangerous this crap is.
I didn't think Harper could sink any lower then he has, but to even promote the continued production & trade of any kind of asbestos, even when all experts tell him there is absolutely no way to work with the stuff in a healthy manner, is beyond low.... it's drops well below disgust.
It doesn't matter if it's traded in 1st, 2nd or 3rd world nations, the stuff is friggin deadly...... and to only sell it in 3rd world nations?
Does Harper actually think 3rd World Nations have the resources and know-how to use asbestos in a way that will ensure the safety of the people in those countries working & living around that stuff? Many developed nations simply refuse to touch the stuff..... so what does that tell you about 3rd World Nations?
That they're behind the times, that they need a product that's cheap, regardless of how dangerous it is...... and that Harper is willing to take advantage of that situation in order to gain some profit from these countries at their own people's expense and a few extra votes against the Bloc in Quebec.... regardless of what all the experts tell him.
Don't forget.... Harper is always right.... he always knows best, and he always knows more then those who spend their whole careers dealing with such things every day of their lives & see it all first hand.
Harper just passes it all off, continually dismisses anything he doesn't like to hear and tells everybody to just listen to him..... He Knows All!
Now we can add another title to Harper..... "The Peddler of Death"
Am I exaggerating?
Show me where I am
Am I biased?
You're damn right I am, but I don't have to be for any of the above to be the truth and fact.
Harper finger-pointed at Layton for trying to peddle votes in Quebec by possibly opening up the Constitution some time down the road..... yet what does he call what he's saying above? At least suggesting opening up the Constitution later down the road won't directly cost the lives of thousands of people or more.
Oh I forgot.... the people in 3rd world nations are not the same as us, their value & their lives are not as important as our own. So long as Harper gains an extra seat & possibly gain some extra profit, they're expendable.
Added:
One thing I did find a bit funny was that on the CTV news link above, there were so many outraged and angry comments towards Harper over this, that CTV closed the comment section so no more comments could be made.
Doesn't surprise me though.... CTV is a Conservative supporting news source & they can't have that stuff happening.
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