Will Canada end promotion of asbestos?

Published on Thu 28 Sep 2006

The Canadian government is considering ending its funding of the Montreal-based Chrysotile Institute (CI), a lobbying body that promotes 'white' asbestos around the world, reports the TUC.

Canada is the world's second biggest exporter of asbestos and has provided approximately £10 million pounds to support the CI since 1984. Federal documents have revealed that the CI has requested at least one more year of funding, in order to develop a new business plan, however the Canadian government says it has not yet decided whether it will cease funding at all.

Despite uncertainty at home, the government continues to champion asbestos abroad. It recently contested a decision by the South African Government to ban asbestos. It failed in its attempt to convince the World Trade Organisation that such a ban would breach its [WTO’s] rules on freedom of trade.