Asbestos opponent targets Montreal merchant, volunteer
CBC News
Posted: Jan 21, 2012 12:10 PM ET
Last Updated: Jan 21, 2012 4:19 PM ET
Anti-asbestos activists are pressuring a pair of health institutions to cut ties with a Montreal-based asbestos exporter.
Asbestos opponent Stacy Cattran is leading a letter-writing campaign against Roshi Chadha, an executive with Seja Trade Ltd., a Montreal-based company that exports the mineral to India.
Chadha is also a member of the boards of both St. Mary's Hospital Foundation and McGill University.
Cattran says those two activities are incompatible.
"Asbestos causes cancer and a hospital should not be legitimizing the asbestos industry by having one of the main faces of the asbestos industry sitting on their board," said the Ontario-based activist, who lost her father to mesothelioma in 2008.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure.
Until last week Chadha served on the governing body of the Canadian Red Cross — but resigned after Cattran's letter-writing campaign lobbied the humanitarian organization.
St. Mary's Foundation said it is reviewing Chadha's position.
But McGill's board issued a statement saying Chadha is a valued volunteer member, and it has no further comment.
CBC calls to Chadha have not been returned.
With files from Dan HaltonShare Tools
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