Asbestos Legislation

A Canadian politician who met with an asbestos businessman trying to convince him of the trade's safety said he was unswayed by the man's arguments.

New Democrat Member of Parliament Pat Martin used to be an asbestos miner so he knows about the deadly toll the naturally occurring substance can take on people. Still, he met with Baljit Chadha, who was in Ottawa on a public relations initiative for the asbestos industry, according to The Canadian Press.

The two men met for about an hour-and-a-half during which they reportedly discussed Chadha's intention to prolong the life of the Jeffrey asbestos mine in Quebec and whether or not asbestos could be safely used in the developing countries where Canada typically exports the material.

"And I told him I thought that what he's doing is morally and ethically reprehensible - I (said) that to his face," Martin told the news source. "It was a frustrating meeting because either he doesn't get it, or he thinks we're stupid."

Despite the claims of Chadha and others in the asbestos industry, it is now a scientifically recognized fact that exposure to asbestos causes malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.