http://www.montrealgazette.com/index.html
MONTREAL – The federal government has tossed in the towel and will stop fighting international efforts to list asbestos as a dangerous substance, striking another blow to a once-mighty Canadian industry now on the verge of extinction.
In a sudden reversal for the Harper government, Industry Minister Christian Paradis said Ottawa will no longer oppose efforts to include asbestos to the UN’s Rotterdam treaty on hazardous materials. For Paradis, the announcement Friday was far from celebratory.
He hails from central Quebec’s asbestos belt and is one of the sector’s staunchest defenders. Paradis looked glum and spoke in a nearly hushed tone as he spoke in his hometown of Thetford Mines, a community still dotted with imposing tailing piles that remind locals of the industry’s once-bustling heyday.
He blamed the new Parti Quebecois provincial government for killing the industry and cast Friday’s move as an inevitable response.
In making the announcement, the Conservatives fired the first shot in what is expected to be a turbulent relationship between Ottawa and the freshly elected PQ.
The PQ has said it will cancel a $58 million loan, confirmed just a few months ago by the previous Liberal provincial government. The cash was aimed at reviving what would be the country’s only asbestos operation in Asbestos, a 90-minute drive from Thetford Mines.
Paradis took direct aim at the sovereigntist PQ and blamed it for the turn of events.
“First off I’d like to remind you that Pauline Marois, the premier-designate of Quebec, has clearly stated her intention to forbid chrysotile exploitation in Quebec,” he said in his opening remarks.
“Obviously that decision will have a negative impact on the prosperity of our regions…
“In the meantime hundreds of workers in our region are without jobs, are living in uncertainty and hoping the mine will reopen… Madame Marois has clearly made her decision. So our government has made a decision that it’s now time to look after our communities, workers and families.”
The PQ said Friday that it had taken note of Paradis’ announcement but would not react to it. The party also reaffirmed its commitment to hold a commission on the economic future of the industry.
Paradis promised that the Harper government would spend up to $50 million to help a region deeply in need of jobs diversify its economy. He made the announcement next to Thetford Mines Mayor Luc Berthold.
The mayor expressed disappointment about recent events and thanked the federal government for helping to make the best of a bad situation.
One industry official downplayed the significance of the announcement. Jeffrey Mine spokesman Guy Versailles said several other countries — notably Russia, China and Brazil — could still block the substance from being added to the UN list as they have in the past.
And even if does get listed, all that would mean is adding labels that warn about possible health risks and would not actually limit exports, he said.
“Inclusion of chrysotile in the Rotterdam Convention would in no way signal the end of the chrysotile business in Canada,” Versailles said in an interview Friday.
“It does not say, ‘prohibit imports and exports.’ ”
For the rest of this article, please go to the Montreal Gazette website: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/all/Canada+tosses+towel+defending+asbestos/7244246/story.html