The Canadian government is paying millions to remove asbestos from the Prime Minister’s home, while he supports export of the same deadly material to third world countries

Open Letter to Prime Minister Harper

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

We urge you to put people’s lives ahead of politics. Please end your support for the deadly asbestos trade.

Canada’s leading medical authorities have all told you that Canada’s export of asbestos is medically and morally indefensible and will lead to an epidemic of asbestos-related disease and death overseas.

We are shocked and dismayed that you are denying the clear scientific evidence and instead are supporting a plan to revive Canada’s bankrupt, dying and deadly asbestos industry.

Public policy should be based on science, not politics. The science is indisputable that all asbestos is deadly. Not a single reputable authority supports your claim that chrysotile asbestos (which represents 100% of the global asbestos trade) can be safely used.

Canada is becoming known as an immoral asbestos pusher and as an enemy of global public health. This is not the role Canadians want to play in the world. This does not reflect Canadian values.

We are appalled that, in order to protect the asbestos industry, you have publicly promised to block the upcoming Conference of the U.N. Environmental Convention (Rotterdam Convention) so as to prevent chrysotile asbestos being listed as a hazardous substance. Chrysotile asbestos is a hazardous substance under Canadian law. It is, in our opinion, hypocritical and contemptuous of the lives of people in the developing world to prevent them from being provided with this critical information, as if their lives were less worthy of protection.

It is with sorrow and shame that we note that Canada is becoming a pariah on the international stage for its obstruction of global efforts to protect health, human rights and the environment. Prime Minister Harper, you are the only national leader in Canada and in the Western world to promote asbestos. At the same time, Canadian taxpayers are paying millions of dollars to remove asbestos from your official residence and your place of work, the Parliament Buildings, in order to protect you and other Canadian politicians from being harmed by exposure to asbestos.

This election is about trust and integrity. We urgently call on you to show integrity.

We ask you to:

Respect the science

Put human life ahead of partisan political interests

Support a ban on asbestos and the provision of transition assistance to the last remaining asbestos miners and their community

Support the listing of chrysotile asbestos under the Rotterdam Convention

Adopt a comprehensive strategy to address Canada’s asbestos disease crisis

We request a response from you. Please do not, as usually happens, forward our letter to Christian Paradis, the Minister of Natural Resources, who is an avid supporter of the asbestos industry and simply puts forward its discredited position.

We urgently await your response on this critical ethical issue.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Ruff,

Senior human rights adviser, Rideau Institute

ON BEHALF OF:

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

Nature Québec

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Canada

Sierra Club Canada

International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada

Maîtres chez nous-21e siècle, Québec

Syndicat des débardeurs de Montréal, SCFP Section locale 375

British Columbia & Yukon Territory Building & Construction Trades Council

Prevent Cancer Now

Atlantic Coast District, International Longshoremen’s Association

Canadian Society for Asbestos Victims

MiningWatch Canada

Asbestos-related Research, Education and Advocacy Fund

Boilermakers Lodge 359

Sheet Metal Local 280

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union Local #2 BC

BC Ferry & Marine Worker’s Union

IBEW Local 993, Northern B.C. & Yukon

I L A, Local 1657, Montréal

International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 115

ADDENDUM

1) Reputable Scientific Organisations that Oppose your position on chrysotile asbestos:

The Canadian Medical Association

The Canadian Cancer Society

The Lung Association of Canada

The Quebec Medical Association

The Canadian Public Health Association

The Quebec Association for Public Health

The Quebec Association of Physicians Specializing in Community Health

The Lung Association of Quebec

The National Specialty Society for Community Medicine

The National Public Health Institute of Quebec

The Quebec Association for Occupational Hygiene, Health & Safety

All the Quebec government’s sixteen regional Directors of Public Health

The Quebec College of Physicians

The College of Family Physicians of Canada

The Quebec College of Family Physicians

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The International Social Security Association

The International Labour Organization

The International Commission on Occupational Health

The World Health Organization

2) Reputable Scientific Organisations that Support your position on chrysotile asbestos: