Canadian Asbestos Victims Group: Ban Profiteering from the Export of Chrysotile!

The Right Hon. Paul Edgar Phillippe Martin Prime Minister House of Commons Ottawa, Canada

email: Martin.P@parl.gc.ca

September 3, 2004

Re: Chrysotile: Environment and PIC list.

Dear Prime Minister Martin,

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates the number of work-related asbestos deaths worldwide as 100,000 every year; Dr. Jukka Takala of the ILO admits that this figure could under-estimate the problem by more than 40%.

In addition to the epidemic created by occupational exposure to asbestos, environmental and domestic exposure has caused others to suffer from a range of debilitating and fatal diseases.

More than 90% of global asbestos consumption is chrysotile (white asbestos); Canada is one of the world's largest chrysotile producers exporting more than 95% of the annual fiber output.

The use of asbestos, including chrysotile, is banned or seriously restricted in most industrial countries because its safe use is considered to be unrealistic

At the same time as asbestos is being removed from government buildings on Capital Hill, Ottawa, proposals to promote the use of chrysotile in Canadian public buildings and infrastructures are being considered; abroad Canadian asbestos stakeholders are aggressively promoting the use of chrysotile in developing countries where approrpriate controls and regulation do not exist.

Canada promotes the sale of chrysotile through the Montreal-based Asbestos Institute (AI); between 1984-2001, the AI received a total of $54 million, two thirds of which came from public funds. The President of the AI, Clément Godbout, is also a member of the Board of MAZARIN a company entirely dedicated to the sale of chrysotile. Canada opposes the inclusion of chrysotile on the UN PIC list. The list informs countries of the dangers of the products included on it.

We call on the Canadian Government to ban the export of asbestos; withdraw its financial and political support from the Asbestos Institute; work with the communities involved to ensure a just transition for asbestos workers and lobby for a world wide ban on the use of asbestos, and as an immediate

measure: SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF CHRYSOTILE ON THE PIC LIST!

Sincerely,

--------------------

Support Quebec Asbestos Victims!

L'Association des victimes de l'amiante du Québec (Association of Québec Asbestos Victims/AVAQ) is calling on Canada to abandon its veto of UN plans to restrict global asbestos sales. With an eye on a September 18th meeting in Geneva, AVAQ has embarked upon a letter-writing campaign to Canadian Ministers and federal politicians to raise awareness of the growth of anti-asbestos sentiment. In addition, a press conference on September 14th will alert the public to the: "environmental situation in the Thetford-Mines area and the present opposition of the Canadian Government to the inclusion of chrysotile on the PIC list."

AVAQ urgently needs the support of like-minded individuals and groups worldwide and requests that, in the first instance, correspondence be sent to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Health and the Environment (contact details plus a sample letter are attached as Appendix A). People with access to fax machines are advised that faxed messages would be the most effective; emails are a credible second choice. Journalists are requested to phone the ministers' offices.

Should correspondents wish to forward their letters to the IBAS Coordinator, Laurie Kazan-Allen, she will collect and forward correspondence to thirty-nine federal politicians as recommended by AVAQ. The letter sent by IBAS as well as an update on developments will be on the IBAS website

(www.ibas.btinternet.co.uk) shortly.

*** POSTED SEPTEMBER 3, 2004 ***