Canadian Council of Occupational Hygiene
Conseil Canadien d’Hygiène du Travail
 

Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, regarding banning Canada's export of asbestos

Members of the Canadian Occupational Health Community

 

We all know that Canada's export of asbestos is ethically wrong. I urge you to take a step to stop this practice by sending a letter to Prime Minister Harper.

For your convenience, sample letters, in both official languages are listed below. Take the letter, modify it to your own words, print it or write it in longhand and send it to the Prime Minister. We also suggest that you send similar letter to the leaders of the opposition paries and to your own Member of Parliament. Canada Post does not require postage on letters sent to members of parliament.

Lorraine Shaw, B.Sc., CIH, ROH
President, CCOH

 

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

Canada's export of asbestos to developing countries is indefensible. We know exposure to asbestos can cause significant negative health effects, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. We are spending millions to remove it from the Parliament Buildings and from schools and homes across Canada.

I urge you to support the private members bill titled "An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (asbestos)," submitted on June 1, 2009, by the MP from Skeena-Bulkley Valley to end Canada's asbestos trade.

The Quebec asbestos mining area has transformed its economy so that today only 7 per cent of jobs are in the asbestos industry.

I look forward to your reply,

Messieurs les chefs de parti,

L'exportation canadienne de l'amiante vers les pays en développement est indéfendable. L'amiante est mortel, nous le savons. Nous dépensons des millions de dollars pour le retirer des édifices du Parlement ainsi que des maisons et des écoles partout au pays.

Je vous demande instamment d'appuyer le projet de loi privé intitulé " Loi modifiant la Loi canadienne sur la protection de l'environnement (1999) (amiante)," présenté le 1er juin 2009 par le député Skeena-Bulkley Valley, pour mettre fin au commerce canadien de l'amiante.

Au Québec, la région de l'amiante a transformé son économie de sorte que seulement 7 % des emplois relèvent aujourd'hui de l'industrie de l'amiante.

J'attends votre réponse avec impatience.

Veuillez agréer mes salutations,
 

Recent articles on Canada's questionable position on asbestos:

Exporting hazard: Safety advocates question Canada’s asbestos double standard
Canada's booming asbestos market
Canada's lethal export

 

 


American Public Health Association Position Statement on Elimination of Asbestos:

To view the position statement document go here.

 Copyright CCOH/CCHT 2006, 2010
For problems or questions regarding this Web site contact CCOH/CCHT.