Canadian labour unions discuss the end of asbestos

Published on Fri 30 Nov 2007

The Canadian Labour Conference (CLC) has finally addressed the subject of Canada's asbestos industry. Speaking at the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour convention CLC president Ken Georgetti told delegates that a resolution to ban the export of asbestos to third world countries would be debated at the CLC convention, reports Canada's Leader-Post

Canada, the world's largest exporter of asbestos, has been criticised for exporting the cancer causing material to developing nations, where regulations are not vigourously enforced. Despite this criticism exports to such countries have increased, with India being the largest importer of Canadian asbestos.

Georgetti stressed that any lobbying for a resolution to ban asbestos exports would involve provision for those workers who would no longer be employed in the asbestos industry.