Posted: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

OTTAWA – The president of the Canadian Labour Congress says he is appalled that the Canadian government has blocked an international effort to list chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous chemical.

“The science is clear and experts from around the world have said repeatedly that chrysotile asbestos is a dangerous substance that causes cancer,” says Ken Georgetti. “Yet our government continues to pretend that in selling asbestos to developing countries it is exporting a safe product. Canada’s government is putting people’s lives at stake for what can only be described as crass politics.”

At an international summit in Switzerland this week, Canada blocked the inclusion of chrysotile asbestos on an international list of hazardous chemicals. Putting chrysotile asbestos on the Annex III list of the Rotterdam Convention would allow countries importing the substance to turn it away if they don't think they can handle it safely. The convention must have consensus to make changes to the list. There are two more days of talks before the Rotterdam Convention meetings close.

“Our government doesn’t allow asbestos to be used in Canada, and it is being removed from the Parliament Buildings and the Prime Minister’s own residence,” says Georgetti, “but we continue to export it to developing countries. This is hypocritical and it’s an international embarrassment. We have seen lately too many examples of this government's disregard for working people in Canada and around the world.”

The CLC is calling on the federal government to support a ban on all asbestos production and export, to support a just transition of workers from the industry, and to stop providing financial support to the one mine left in production in Canada.

For more information, contact:
Dennis Gruending: Tel: 613-526-7431. Cell: 613-878-6040.
Email: dgruending@clc-ctc.ca

See Ken Georgetti’s June 16, 2011 letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.