Canada Drops Opposition to Asbestos as Carcinogen

Canada has long been one of the few nations that have been hesitant to support strict regulations that limit the usage of asbestos and emphasize its dangers as a carcinogen that causes mesothelioma.

However, the country’s Industry Minister Christian Paradis recently made a potentially policy-altering decision by formally dropping the nation’s opposition to listing asbestos as a hazardous material. Canada had previously opposed the listing in part because of the country’s active asbestos mining/exporting industry. Classifying asbestos as a dangerous material could prove detrimental to the industry.

The attempt to classify asbestos as a hazardous material is listed under the United Nations’ Rotterdam Convention. According to Reuters, Canada is the only Western developed country that exports asbestos.

"It would be illogical for Canada to oppose the inclusion of chrysotile (asbestos) in... the Rotterdam Convention when Quebec, the only province that produces chrysotile, will prohibit its exploitation," said Paradis.

Hopefully this will be the beginning of more progressive decisions regarding asbestos mining and manufacturing in Canada. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma that can be attributed to Canadian asbestos exposure, call Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation regarding a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Tags: