2015-02PU ASBESTOS EXPOSURE A HEALTH HAZARD
Whereas 1 in 2010 the National Council of Women of Canada adopted as policy:
a. the inclusion of Chrysotile Asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention
b. a Ban on Mining and Exports of All Forms of Asbestos
c. the need for a Central Registry of Asbestos; and
Whereas 2 Canada’s last asbestos mine closed in 2011 and Canada no longer exports asbestos, but the importation of products containing asbestos is permitted; and
Whereas 3 although some provinces have brought in stricter standards for exposure to asbestos, many thousands of Canadians have suffered and died from the effects of direct or secondary contact with asbestos, or asbestos residue, and asbestos is the top cause of workplace death; and
Whereas 4 the World Health Organization has declared that no level of exposure to asbestos is acceptable; and
Whereas 5 there is still no Central Registry of Asbestos, Canada has failed to support the inclusion of Chrysotile asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention, and Health Canada still fails to warn the public of the health risks for Canadians who are exposed to asbestos; therefore be it
Resolved 1 that the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) adopt as policy that the importation and use of products containing asbestos not be allowed and that the public be made aware of the dangers of primary and secondary exposure to asbestos; and be it further
Resolved 2 that the NCWC urge the Government of Canada to:
a. establish a Central Registry of Asbestos
b. support the inclusion of Chrysotile asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention
c. ban the importation and use of products containing asbestos
d. alert the public to the dangerous nature of primary and secondary exposure to asbestos that spans several generations
Policy Statement
The National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) adopts as policy that the importation and use of products containing asbestos not be allowed and that the public be made aware of the dangers of primary and secondary exposure to asbestos.
Request of Government
NCWC urges the Government of Canada to:
a. establish a Central Registry of Asbestos
b. support the inclusion of Chrysotile asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention
c. ban the importation and use of products containing asbestos
d. alert the public to the dangerous nature of primary and secondary exposure to asbestos that spans several generations
Rationale
In 2010 the National Council of Women of Canada adopted as policy:
a. the inclusion of Chrysotile Asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention
b. a Ban on Mining and Exports of All Forms of Asbestos
c. the need for a Central Registry of Asbestos
Canada’s last asbestos mine closed in 2011 and Canada no longer exports asbestos, but the importation of products containing asbestos is permitted. Although some provinces have brought in stricter standards for exposure to asbestos, many thousands of Canadians have suffered and died from the effects of direct or secondary contact with asbestos, or asbestos residue, and asbestos is the top cause of workplace death. The World Health Organization has declared that no level of exposure to asbestos is acceptable.
There is still no Central Registry of Asbestos, Canada has failed to support the inclusion of Chrysotile asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention, and Health Canada still fails to warn the public of the health risks for Canadians who are exposed to asbestos.