The Canadian Labour Congress is calling for a ban on all asbestos mining in Canada. Health Canada recently hired seven scientists and medical professionals to examine the link between asbestos and cancer. That report was submitted in March but has not yet been released. However, Leslie Stayner, one of the report’s authors, has said that there is nothing in the report that would argue against the sensibility of an asbestos ban.
The CLC passed a resolution that bans the mining of asbestos and also provides financial support for the 700 miners who would be affected by the shutdown. Quebec province has the only 2 Canadian asbestos mines and that province has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world.
Canada still exports asbestos to countries like India and Pakistan even though most countries have banned asbestos.
