AIA Canada encourages discussion on banning asbestos

On Wednesday November 16, Sheri Benson, MP for Saskatoon West tabled a private member’s bill entitled An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

AIA Canada announced they were pleased to hear that there is renewed parliamentary discussion surrounding the ban on asbestos and health and workplace safety practices.

“As we follow the recent movement to stop the importation of asbestos into Canada, AIA Canada continues to acknowledge worker safety as a priority for AIA’s members and towards an asbestos-free automotive industry,” says Jean-Francois Champagne, president of AIA Canada.

More than 2,000 people die every year in Canada from diseases caused by exposure to asbestos, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Asbestos exposure is the number one cause of occupational death in Canada, and since 1996, asbestos-related diseases have account for about a third of the workplace deaths recognized by worker’s compensation boards.

While Canada has halted exportation of asbestos, the importation of asbestos products such as brake pads and clutches for new and used vehicles has not been totally eliminated.

Many automotive repair shops and do-it-yourselfers are unaware that asbestos is still present in both old and replacement brakes and clutches, resulting in exposure to toxic asbestos dust without the use of proper protection.

www.aiacanada.com