What Happened to the Asbestos Ban?

A few years ago, the last asbestos mine in the country closed for good after a new Quebec provincial government nixed a deal for its owners. Canada went from becoming the biggest exporter of asbestos – and a despised champion of its protection from international regulation – to…a sort of wishy washy neutral stance.

It’s not what many were expecting, and the pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Trudeau to make good on his promise to ban the harmful substance entirely.

We know it was politics – in the form of a Conservative government that didn’t want to lose votes in rural Quebec – that kept asbestos on the table for so many years. Now, while it makes sense to go slow on some issues – like legalizing marijuana – when it comes to an outright ban on asbestos, there’s absolutely no reason for the federal government to hesitate. The evidence is in, and has been in for many years.

The Truth about Asbestos
As a country, Canada still imports asbestos containing good every year to the tune of $10 million, largely in the form of brake pads and industrial piping. And if we thought that Canadian asbestos exports were over? They’re not. Schools in South America and India are being built with Canadian asbestos as we speak.

Asbestos is banned in 55 countries, including the UK and Australia. What’s the delay? In July, the PM told the Globe and Mail that the government is “reviewing its strategy on asbestos, including a potential ban.”

Here are the facts already in evidence:

  • In 2011, the last year where statistics are available, 2,100 Canadians were diagnosed with asbestos-related cancers;
  • Treating the victims of asbestos costs almost $2 billion per year;
  • Every year, 150,000 more Canadian workers are exposed to asbestos;
  • Canada has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world.

The science is not ambiguous on this issue. Inhaled asbestos fibres never leave the lungs, instead remaining to cause changes over time that can result in a host of respiratory issues, up to and including deadly cancers and mesothelioma. Period.

Safe, Not Sorry
Editorials in major newspapers across the country are calling not just for a ban, but for federally funded asbestos removal programs to deal with our shameful asbestos legacy once and for all. We can’t help but agree!

Asbestos exposure is no joke. If you suspect the presence of asbestos in your home, you can’t afford to cut corners or “save money” while your health and that of your family if the material is concerned. You can trust the experienced asbestos removal experts and asbestos remediation experts at GreenStream Environmental to take care of the issue for you. In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414. Contact us for a quote today.

Featured in Mike Holmes’ magazine, HGTV’s Income Properties, W Network’s Love It Or List It and chosen by Homestars.com as “Best Toronto Asbestos Removal Company” based on customer ratings and reviews, GreenStream Environmental Services are fully-certified, trusted and insured professionals in the removal and disposal of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential asbestos, vermiculite and mould (hazardous and non-hazardous). Providing emergency service 24/7/365 for all of Toronto and the GTA (North York, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Scarborough, Ajax, Oshawa, and beyond) GreenStream has over 40 combined years of experience serving clients such as the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board and many more. For a free estimate in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario, call today at 416-818-9414. You’ll be glad you did.

GreenStream Environmental Inc. specializes in the Inspection, Remediation, and Safe Removal of Asbestos and Mould, both hazardous and non-hazardous.
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