MP's break rank with Government on asbestos

[Tonington]

Two Conservative MPs have broken ranks with the government over support for the asbestos industry as Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff faces criticism in Quebec for opposing the export of what he called such "dangerous substances."

Conservative MP Dona Cadman of British Columbia told Canwest News Service Thursday she would love to see asbestos mining operations in Quebec shut down, adding "I could get myself in a lot of trouble for this."

Ontario Conservative MP Pat Davidson told the Sarnia Observer last week -- after the Canadian Medical Association called for a ban on asbestos use and exports -- that "I'm definitely not supporting the mining or exporting of asbestos."

The rare open defiance of Prime Minister Stephen Harper by backbench MPs comes as asbestos industry, union and local political officials are blasting Ignatieff for saying last week that he knows how important asbestos is to the Thetford Mines region of Quebec, "but the science is telling us that it is dangerous and we have to follow the science."

Harper's spokesman, Dimitri Soudas, said Conservative MPs can say what they like, but that does not change the government's policy to "defend and promote the safe usage and export of chrysotile (asbestos)."

He blasted Ignatieff for flip-flopping on the issue and accused him of readiness to shut down a one-industry region. "He's a touring recession," Soudas said.

The last vestige of the asbestos industry in Canada is in the riding of Megantic-L'Erable, held by Public Works Minister Christian Paradis. That is one of 10 seats the Conservatives hold of 75 in Quebec.

"MPs have the right to their views on a wide range of issues but government policy is government policy," Soudas said when asked for comment on the backbench breakaways.

The Harper government has staunchly supported the Canadian asbestos industry, despite the fact that asbestos use is severely restricted in Canada and it is being torn out of the walls of buildings on Parliament Hill.

SOURCE

Yet more from the Government that is staunchly against mainstream science. Continue to export death, remove it from offices here in Canada, for a few votes. Standard stuff now.

 

[AnnaG]

Although I think the safe use of asbestos is ok, exporting it when other people can come to harm from it is absolutely deplorable. It makes us no different than China, the US, or any other country that exports hazardous substances. I think this government is confused. It does things to promote better health for Canadians yet turns around and does things that endanger the health of Canadians (and others). It needs a reality check, but I haven't seen anyone else any more qualified in reality (including Iggy and Laymton).

 

[Tonington]

The lowest standards were 0.1 fibre per cc of air. Even at that level, OSHA estimated 3.4 excess deaths per 1,000 workers from lung cancer, mesothelioma, and gastrointestinal cancer at the 0.1 permissible exposure limit for individuals exposed over a 45-year working lifetime.

The "safe" use of asbestos is a myth. At any exposure, and for all fibre types, there is elevated risk of cancer. That there is a "safe" level at all is a consequence of industry fighting to keep the chemical in use, and not the result of any objective scientific research.

 

[lone wolf]

The issue isn't so much dangerous exports as it is employment in Quebec....

 

[AnnaG]

The lowest standards were 0.1 fibre per cc of air. Even at that level, OSHA estimated 3.4 excess deaths per 1,000 workers from lung cancer, mesothelioma, and gastrointestinal cancer at the 0.1 permissible exposure limit for individuals exposed over a 45-year working lifetime.

The "safe" use of asbestos is a myth. At any exposure, and for all fibre types, there is elevated risk of cancer. That there is a "safe" level at all is a consequence of industry fighting to keep the chemical in use, and not the result of any objective scientific research.

Well, I'm not particularly worried about the stuff we have here. Les got it for free in compressed 2.5'x8' sheets, he spray painted it with heat-resistant paint and clad it is sheet steel. It flanks, and sits under and over the woodstove in our workshop. Les was more concerned about all the crap he's breathed over the years as a municipal firefighter than the short little time he spent exposed to the asbestos. He wore an autobodyman's mask and coveralls for the job. "Safety" is relative.

 

[Tonington]

"Safety" is relative.

Of course, though. Defining a safe amount is not. Sure there are some things more safe than others, but any amount of carcinogenic properties is by definition not a safe amount, when there is the option to not use it and have no carcinogen. Years later when somebody has to deal with the product, as it deteriorates, it becomes less stable (here's that relative part again :smile: ), and more dangerous.

 

[AnnaG]

Of course, though. Defining a safe amount is not. Sure there are some things more safe than others, but any amount of carcinogenic properties is by definition not a safe amount, when there is the option to not use it and have no carcinogen. Years later when somebody has to deal with the product, as it deteriorates, it becomes less stable (here's that relative part again :smile: ), and more dangerous.

Ah. I see what you mean.
As it is clad in sheet steel and is pretty well in a sealed condition, I doubt it will deteriorate very quickly. It was a risk, but IMO, an extremely small one, but then I view driving to town and back sometimes as being quite a bit riskier. Even just driving in town is likely riskier sometimes. lol

 

[AnnaG]

I am going to look up the safe disposal of the stuff anyway now that you stirred up my curiosity about deterioration.

 

[mit]

Those bags of Zonolite insulation that we filled our houses with in the 70's is also a source of asbestos - being a natural product a house may have low concentrations of asbestos or high concentrations - just depends what bucket full of mica was used.

 

[mit]

There is also Chinese drywall that was used in the southern states particularly after Katrina that has some environmental issues but it was cheap and in good supply.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1748974
Politicians discuss asbestos exports



Posted By PAUL MORDEN, THE OBSERVER

Posted 13 days ago





Canada still mines and sells asbestos because "of pure politics in its worst form," according to Nathan Cullen.


The NDP MP from British Columbia introduced a private member's bill C-399 earlier this year that would put an end to the mining and selling of Canadian asbestos.


It's a move that was endorsed recently by the Canadian Medical Association.
In August, Sarnia-Lambton MP Pat Davidson told The Observer, "I'm definitely not supporting the mining or exporting of asbestos."


She did vote in favour of the last federal budget that gave money to the Chrysotile Institute. The institute, which is also funded by the Quebec government and the asbestos industry, promotes and teaches the safe handling of chrysotile asbestos.


In a statement e-mailed to The Observer Thursday, Davidson said private members bills are an important way for MPs "to address serious issues on behalf of the Canadian public."
Davidson added she had been following Cullen's bill since it was tabled back in June.
"I feel that this particular MP has taken steps to address what he has deemed to be an important measure in the public's interest."
Davidson's statement adds that as the bill is discussed in Parliament in the coming months, "I will be following that debate closely on behalf of the constituents of Sarnia-Lambton."
Cullen said, "We fired off a letter today to Ms. Davidson, just to encourage her to stay with her support, to keep to the right course on this."
Cullen blamed Parliament's failure to ban the mining and sale of asbestos on "pandering to a very narrow interest in Quebec."


That province is home to the country's only remaining asbestos mine, located in a riding currently held by the Conservatives.
"It's one of the most representative issues of what's wrong with politics in Canada," Cullen said.
According to Statistics Canada, more than $100-million worth of asbestos was exported last year, much of it to India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Brazil.
It is estimated at least 90,000 people die from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Asbestos was widely used in the past in Chemical Valley.
Jim Brophy, former executive director of the Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers in Point Edward, has estimated that 11,000 residents of the Sarnia- Lambton region have either died or sustained serious health ailments resulting from asbestos exposure.
More than 40 countries, including all members of the European Union, have banned use of all forms of asbestos but chrysotile asbestos is still widely used, particularly in the developing world, the WHO states.
Cullen's bill, which received first reading June 1, came out of a contest the MPP runs in northwestern British Columbia called Create Your Canada.
It asks students to think about their country and propose legislation to make it better. Students who win go to Ottawa to help draft their bill.
This year's winners called for a national bike path system, and banning the mining and sale of asbestos.
"While it was an idea that many of us wanted to push," Cullen said, "it was inevitably the young people that wrote this bill."
The MP said he has been feeling hopeful about the bill's fate because he is beginning to hear
some Liberal MPs "and a couple of Conservatives, any ways, start to speak the truth to this issue."
Cullen said he had been hoping to see the bill make some progress this fall.
"Of course," he added, "all this sits in some jeopardy now as the election speculation swirls."
Even if an election interrupts Bill C-399's progress, Cullen said, "The ball has been moved significantly down the field by the efforts of these young kids."
He said leaders of the Liberal, Conservative and Bloc parties have for years spoken about the issue one way in Quebec and another way outside of that province.
"When Canadians learn about Canada's hypocrisy, they're infuriated, and that includes folks in Quebec."
Cullen said his own interest in ending the exporting of asbestos predates his decision to enter politics.
"It just struck me as a very hypocritical thing for Canada to be doing," he said, "pretending to be a good player on the international scene but exporting a known carcinogen to countries that couldn't handle it."
He added, "People are dying because of Canada's policies."


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Time to stop being merchants of death on this mineral.