Asbestos Legislation

The leader of one of the largest political parties in the Canadian province of Quebec said that his organization would review the safety of asbestos mining.

The potential revitalization of the Jeffrey Mine in the town of Asbestos, Quebec, has caused a great deal of controversy with health experts and anti-asbestos advocates denouncing the export of the carcinogenic substance mined at the site to developing countries. Now, the leader of Bloc Quebecois, Gilles Duceppe, said that the Quebec legislature should form a committee to investigate the matter, reports CTV.

According to the news source, Duceppe had said as recently as two weeks ago that asbestos could be safely utilized. However, he appears to be open to changing his position.

Asbestos exposure has been known since the mid-1960s to cause a number of serious illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that 107,000 people die each year from such diseases.

The Liberal government of Quebec must determine whether or not to guarantee a loan to the Jeffrey mine which would allow it to re-start operations.

The Bloc Quebecois controls 47 of the 308 seats in Canada's House of Commons.