Page 19 - Flipbook

0.01 fibre/cc., which is already in force in some European 5. International action
countries. With a continuing commitment after that to • Play a leading role in international asbestos action, including
achieve the lowest level technically achievable. an international ban on asbestos and listing of chrysotile
asbestos under the Rotterdam Convention.
• Require the adoption of safe alternatives to asbestos, based
on rigorous assessment of their hazards to occupational and • Support the developing world as they address the increasing
public health and of their environmental impacts. This incidence of asbestos diseases.
approach aims to avoid the creation of new hazardous
We likely won’t achieve all of this right away. But I’m hoping that
exposures and substitutes which we may regret later.
Justin Trudeau and his government will get us on the road to
3. Just transition for affected workers and communities eradicate asbestos in Canada and deal with its complex legacy.
• Ensure a just transition for the workers, communities and
We’re requesting the following key commitments from the
businesses affected that is properly resourced, transparent
next Federal Government:
and includes real stakeholder engagement. This includes a
thorough and rigorous environmental and public health risk • To establish a federal asbestos agency based on the
analysis of options for dealing with the asbestos tailings, Australian model.
especially in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
• To mandate the agency, in cooperation with Indigenous
4. Health care and compensation for asbestos peoples, the provinces, territories and municipalities, to
disease victims develop a comprehensive Canadian asbestos strategy and an
• Develop a comprehensive research framework for asbestos implementation plan.
diseases, in particular mesothelioma, and an effective health
• As a first step, to work with the provinces on establishing a
response for the victims. This should include a national
national mesothelioma patient registry.
mesothelioma health care network and a mesothelioma
patient registry. I’m optimistic for the
future. I also want to
• Establish a public system of compensation for the victims of
thank Canada’s Building
non-occupational asbestos diseases.
Trades Unions for
• Establish a mechanism to coordinate the handling of staying the course all
occupation asbestos diseases where the exposure may have these years. You can be
occurred in more than one province or territory. justifiably proud of your
role in winning the
• Collaborate with the workers’ compensation authorities in the
asbestos ban, and I
provinces and territories to establish criteria supporting the
know that you will play a
review of past asbestos disease cases, which may have been
key role in this vital next
denied or not filed at all due to a lack of awareness, in light
phase.
of current scientific knowledge.
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