Tardy, But Welcome

One little ray of light has developed from the election of the Parti Quebecois in this month's election in Quebec.  Of all of the election promises put forward by the PQ leader and premier-designate Pauline Marois her declaration that it was her intention to reverse the decision of the Jean Charest Liberal government to guarantee funding for the revival of the Jeffrey Mine so that chrysotile asbestos mining could be continued, was a winner.

The federal government has been in lock-step with the Province of Quebec in its ongoing determination to keep a paltry several hundred jobs intact in Quebec, even if the industry whose mineral resources are not recognized as safe for use within Canada, shipping the product out to third-world countries, is recognized as a health hazard. 

The kind of immoral hypocrisy that kept Canada - through both Liberal and Conservative-led governments supporting the Quebec-based asbestos industry is indefensible.

Most of Canada's asbestos ended up in India, to be used in industrial projects, where labour laws are non-existent despite Canada's having stated that it insisted that caution be used with asbestos by importing countries.  Now, in the wake of the Quebec election and a minority PQ government having promised to revoke plans to aid in the recuperation of the industry, the federal government has had no choice but to do the same.

Federal Industry Minister Christian Paradis, in whose riding the Quebec asbestos mining region resides, has announced that though it was not his wish to abandon the industry, he was left with little other choice.  Canada will now no longer block international efforts through the Rotterdam Convention in the United Nations, supported by all advanced countries of the world, placing limits on exporting asbestos.

"It would be illogical for Canada to oppose the inclusion of chrysotile (asbestos) in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention when Quebec, the only province that produces chrysotile, will prohibit its exploitation.  Our region will have to live with the consequences of Mrs. Marois' decision, but we will continue to work together on the continued economic development of the community."  Christian Paradis