Most Canadians are very proud of our nation and what it represents internationally; peace-keeping humanitarians. We are not used to being the pariahs on the world stage. And yet the on-going export of asbestos makes us just that. The vast majority of Canadians are opposed to this1, and yet our Federal Government insists on blocking it from being labeled as hazardous (as our prime Minister recently did at the Rotterdam Convention, going against Health Canada’s advice2). The Federal Government also financially supports the primary asbestos lobby industry in Canada (The Chyrsotile Institute) at the taxpayer’s expense. At the same time, it is being ripped, at great expense, from the Parliament Buildings themselves. The Quebec Government, meanwhile, has enabled Balcorp Ltd’s Baljit Chadha, to pursue the expansion of a second asbestos mine in that province (the Jeffrey Mine), with generous loans3. 

With this as the national backdrop, families of asbestos victims across Canada are speaking out and demanding an end to this national embarrassment. Some have demanded that Chadha be removed from the Asia Pacific Foundation4, as he has used his title on that organization to enhance his legitimacy. Others are trying to have him removed as a Board of Governor from Concordia University, a leading medical school in Canada. 

And even more are writing letters to Members of Parliament, and meeting with any politician who will listen. Most of the pleas go unanswered. In October, several families met for the first time, together in solidarity with victims from the US, namely Linda Reinstein, President of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. We have become an extended family, connected in our grief. Most recently, in Toronto, Ont. on Nov. 4, families came together to speak out against the imminent re-opening of Chadha’s asbestos mine, and to ban the export of Canadian asbestos altogether5. The decision is expected to come by Christmas. These families are driven by grief, and their collective spirit of humanity and good will that has defined our nation. 

“Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts…”– former Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau 

Special Note: Dr. Cathy Conrad’s beloved father, Gary, died from mesothelioma on Mother’s Day, 2011, after having been exposed to asbestos while serving in the Canadian Air Force for 23 years

1 http://ibasecretariat.org/lka-quebec-public-opposes-asbestos-subsidy.php

2 http://www.miningwatch.ca/news/over-200-health-advocates-tell-prime-minister-harper-it-s-time-put-human-health-ahead-asbestos

3 http://business.financialpost.com/2011/09/28/chadha%E2%80%99s-asbestos-gamble/

4 http://www.asiapacific.ca/thenationalconversationonasia/conversations/asbestos-regulations-who-responsible-0

5 http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/11/04/asbestos-victims-mine-protest.html