Beginning of the end for the Asbestos Industry?
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1092076
http://blogs.canada.com/2011/11/02/the-most-anti-asbestos-tory-mps-can-do-is-abstain/
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/11/20/asbestos-tory-conservative-party-harper_n_1104028.html
Canada's two asbestos mines have shut down production and an NDP motion on abestos has revealed cracks in Conservative Party 'unity'
Is this the beginning of the end of the asbestos industry in Canada?
The Conservative asbestos abstainers are: Pat Davidson (Sarnia-Lambton), Royal Galipeau (Ottawa-Orleans), Jim Hillyer (Lethbridge), Ed Holder (London West) and James Rajotte (Edmonton-Leduc). Mark Strahl, Conservative MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, (whose father former MP Churck Strahl has abestos-related lung cancer) was absent for the vote.
"Is this the beginning of the end of the asbestos industry in Canada?" I sure as hell hope so.
"Is this the beginning of the end of the asbestos industry in Canada?" I sure as hell hope so.
tell that to all the unionized WORKERS who will lose their jobs, benefits, pensions! :(
So, you're okay with exporting death?
how many UNIONIZED workers will die because they've lost all hope in the future? asbestos is SAFE if its used properly. there are thousands of products and compounds that are deadly if you use them UNSAFLY like microwaves or nailguns an i don't see any push to ban them. this is just another ATTACK on UNIONIZED workers.
Canada’s largest union and relative of victim join asbestos campaign"In six days, the Harper government has the historic opportunity to be a leader in protecting worker's health and safety, both at home and internationally," says Paul Moist, CUPE national president. "Through the Canada Causes Cancer campaign we hope all Canadians will take a stand and tell our politicians that they must vote to support the ban on chrysotile asbestos once and for all."
Workers in Canada stand up for their brother and sister workers abroad.
My understanding is there's approximately 400 miners left in the industry. Obviously there needs to be an exit strategy that addresses the loss of those jobs. But those jobs don't exist in a vacuum. They have a deadly impact on their fellow workers, mostly in India. And no, there is no safe use of asbestos, so I don't see how it makes any sense to continue to mine a product that is impossible to use safely.
"This would honour those who fought and died for health and safety, and point out that the life of an Indian worker, just like that of a Quebecer, cannot be blindly sacrificed in the name of a job."
Quote (from post above):
"The time has come to update our position," said Claudette Carbonneau, the CNTU president, in an address Wednesday to members at a three-day convention.
"This would honour those who fought and died for health and safety, and point out that the life of an Indian worker, just like that of a Quebecer, cannot be blindly sacrificed in the name of a job."
Exactly.
asbestos is SAFE if its used properly.
Bullshit. The use of asbestos is effectively banned in Canada because it can not be used safely. And taxpayers are on the hook for millions of dollars as asbestos is removed from the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.
(edited to add "effectively" to above sentence)
Pat Martin's asbestos page (with a link to his petition)
how many UNIONIZED workers will die because they've lost all hope in the future? asbestos is SAFE if its used properly. there are thousands of products and compounds that are deadly if you use them UNSAFLY like microwaves or nailguns an i don't see any push to ban them. this is just another ATTACK on UNIONIZED workers.
You are truly heartless. Asbestos is not safe under any circumstances, which is why the majority of industrialized nations have banned it. We cannot guarantee its safe use, especially long-term (hence the problem we are seeing in Canada with older homes and buildings). There is no guarantee that the home-owner, building owner, or contractor knows that asbestos might exist in said house or building.
Unionized workers jobs are not a 'sacred cow' at the expence of the health and safety of other human beings (including themselves).
Have you heard the story about the wife of an asbestos worker that died, because she was exposed to asbestos from washing his clothes by hand? These are not the kind of jobs we should be protecting.
Thank God for people like Gerry Caplan!
Seems even Harper and Charest can't save Canada's deadly asbestos exports
Despite Stephen Harper and Jean Charest, it appears increasingly likely Canada will export no more Quebec-mined asbestos to countries like India and Indonesia, where it could bring misery and death to those who come in contact with it. Almost all those affected would be very poor workers and their families. But to the bitter end, the two leaders have been determined to preserve Canada's shameful record of knowingly exporting a carcinogen.