Groups Urge Feds to Stop Funding Asbestos
Ottawa - Sierra Club Canada is joining with the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Medical Association, the World Health Organization, and other environmental and health organizations in calling for an end to government funding of the Chrysotile Institute. The industry lobby group uses taxpayers money to promote the sale and use of asbestos in developing countries.
"Changing the name from asbestos to chrysotile hasn't resulted in a safer product. Everywhere in the developing world where it is sold there are growing health impacts on some of the poorest people," said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada.
On Thursday, March 18th, Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources and MP for the asbestos mining region of Québec, will be appearing before the Standing Committee on Natural Resources from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (in West Block, Room 371) to be questioned on his department's budget. Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre, will be presenting a motion to cut the quarter of a million dollars from the budget that is going to be given to the Chrysotile Institute.
"We are urging the Natural Resources Committee to pass Mr. Martin's motion because it is the right thing to do. He is making a courageous stand against a powerful lobby group," said Mr. Bennett.
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Contact:
John Bennett
Executive Director
Sierra Club Canada
(o) 613.241.4611 x222
(c) 613.291.6888
Toll Free: 1.888.810.4204
"Changing the name from asbestos to chrysotile hasn't resulted in a safer product. Everywhere in the developing world where it is sold there are growing health impacts on some of the poorest people," said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada.
On Thursday, March 18th, Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources and MP for the asbestos mining region of Québec, will be appearing before the Standing Committee on Natural Resources from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (in West Block, Room 371) to be questioned on his department's budget. Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre, will be presenting a motion to cut the quarter of a million dollars from the budget that is going to be given to the Chrysotile Institute.
"We are urging the Natural Resources Committee to pass Mr. Martin's motion because it is the right thing to do. He is making a courageous stand against a powerful lobby group," said Mr. Bennett.
-30-
Contact:
John Bennett
Executive Director
Sierra Club Canada
(o) 613.241.4611 x222
(c) 613.291.6888
Toll Free: 1.888.810.4204
