Vancouver-The BC Federation of Labour applauds the decision by the federal government to move towards a comprehensive ban of the manufacture, import, export, and use of asbestos by 2018.
“Credit for this decision should go to those activists from the labour movement, families, and health advocates across Canada,” stated BCFED President Irene Lanzinger. “This is an exciting and important achievement that will save lives.”
Asbestos is the leading cause of work-related deaths in British Columbia and Canada.
It is estimated that every year more than 150,000 Canadian workers are exposed to asbestos at their workplaces, and tragically more than 2,000 are diagnosed with fatal, asbestos-related cancers and other diseases.
Now that the federal government has made this decision, it is time that Christy Clark’s Liberal government steps up to do their part to protect workers and the public from exposure to this deadly substance.
“The BC Federation of Labour and the BC Building Trades have been lobbying the province to introduce mandatory licensing of asbestos removal contractors and testing facilities, and certify asbestos removal workers,” explained Lanzinger. “Despite the vast evidence that some asbestos removal contractors continue to flagrantly violate health and safety regulations and knowingly expose workers to asbestos, the Liberals have not responded to our recommendations.”
On November 29, John Horgan announced that an NDP government would introduce these life-saving measures.