Canada’s proposed asbestos ban – an important momentum builder for public health protection

Toronto, ON – Collective relief expressed by activists and public health adovcates across Canada, as federal government released its long-awaited regulations banning the use, import and sale of asbestos, and manufacture and import of products containing asbestos, over the weekend. Canada now joins over 50 countries that have banned asbestos but advocates seek continued government leadership to build its strategy to eliminate legacy asbestos issues to protect public health from ongoing exposure to asbestos, known to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and a range of cancers, mostly resulting from workplace exposure.

“The proposed regulation has been a long time coming. It is an essential piece of the federal strategy announced last year.” states Fe de Leon, Researcher and Paralegal at the Canadian Environmental Law Association. “This regulation provides some certainty that asbestos exposure to Canadians and workers will reduce over time starting in 2019. However, the government should take this opportunity to build on its strategy to address potential exposure from legacy asbestos.”

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