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New Quebec party promises to ban asbestos exports

The long-simmering debate about asbestos exports from Quebec to Third World countries took a new turn last week during the provincial election campaign.

Critics say the toxic substance represents a lethal threat to workers.

François Legault, the head of the newly formed Coalition Avenir du Quebec, announced on August 11 that if his party formed the next government, it would ban any further asbestos imports. His government would honour the Quebec Liberal government's $58 million loan promised to the Jeffrey Mine in the Eastern Townships. But he said he would urge the company to use it for other purposes.

"Exporting a toxic product is morally and scientifically infensible," Legault told CBC News. "Quebec has to come to terms with an industry that's stuck in the past."

The Quebec Solidaire Party had already committed itself to opposing asbestos mining and exports as part of its environmental agenda and welcomed the statement from the CAQ.

"It's encouraging, after being the only ones to take this position, to hear another party propose banning exports of this carcinogenic product," Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson Amir Khadir told CBC on August 11.

Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois, on the other hand, told CBC News that she deplored the loan to the Jeffrey mine but indicated she wasn't ready just yet to ban asbestos mining or exports. (Before forming the CAQ, Legault served as a provincial cabinet minister and member of the Parti Quebecois.)

Asbestos is a toxic and carcinogenic substance that is very little used these days in the developed world, and Canadian involvement in shipping it to Third World countries has been condemned by the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Labour Congress, the World Health Organization and many other international bodies.

The Canadian government came under fire last year for helping to block a move under the UN-sponsored Rotterdam Convention to require that asbestos producers fully inform customers of the health risks entailed in asbestos use.

Tom Sandborn covers health policy and labour beats for the Tyee. He welcomes your feedback and story tips at [email protected]

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