Canada will ban asbestos by 2018

bauer_elementary_asbestos-2The Canadian government today announced that it will legislate a comprehensive ban on asbestos and asbestos-containing products by 2018. Commenting on the decision is Kathleen Ruff, RI Board member and award winning ban activist:

The Trudeau government is to be praised for finally ending Canada’s long and shameful history as global propagandist and marketeer for the deadly asbestos trade. In every part of Canada and around the world, health experts, activists and asbestos victims will welcome this long-awaited and long overdue announcement.

Click here for key promises made in the government’s announcement.

Civil society organizations played a critical role in convincing the Government of Canada to take this action. They are now calling on Canada to develop a national strategy to address the appalling legacy of asbestos use in Canada and to establish an expert panel to assist them in this task.

 All those who have been and continue to be involved in the struggle to end the asbestos tragedy in Canada and around the world will rejoice that Canada will now, at long last, join the over fifty countries who have banned asbestos. – Kathleen Ruff

Read the full CBC.ca article at Full asbestos ban, changed codes and regulations expected by 2018 (CBC.ca, 15 December 2016)

Read Kathleen Ruff’s blog on the announcement and further measures that need to be taken by Canada at the international level at Canada will ban asbestos by 2018 (RightonCanada.ca, 15 December 2016)

See also: Why Federal asbestos ban was long overdue (Hassan Yussuff, Toronto Star 15 Dec 2016).

Photo credit: Wikimedia

 

Tags: asbestos, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, CEPA, Civil society, hazardous material, Kathleen Ruff, Minister of Environment, Minister of Health, Quebec, Rideau Institute, RightonCanada.ca, Rotterdam Convention, Russia