Asbestos: Should Canada block move to call chrysotile hazardous?

Lab Chrysotile asbestos mining operations in Black Lake, Que. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

Canada has moved to block listing chrysotile asbestos on an international list of hazardous substances at a UN summit in Switzerland.

Delegates at the summit are determining whether asbestos should be listed in a United Nations convention treaty known as the Rotterdam Convention. Adding it to the Annex III list of the treaty would enable countries where companies import asbestos to turn it away if they don't think it will be safely handled.

The Rotterdam Convention requires consensus before any change can be made to the list. The only countries still objecting are Canada, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.

The CBC Community overwhelmingly opposed Canada's move at the UN meeting.

"Shameful, Harper Government, Shameful," wrote relyte.

Referring to the list of countries that object to adding asbestos to the list, Pete from Scarborough wrote, "Man, the group of countries we get lumped in with sure has changed since I was a kid."

"Our government values money over human life," wrote Agent0range. "They are saying lives in India do not mean as much as jobs in Quebec. This should be considered a crime."

India is a principle importer of chrysotile asbestos. At the UN summit, the country dropped a longstanding objection to adding it to the convention.

"Do the right thing, Canada. Stop defending the indefensible. Let the truth be told and let chrysotile asbestos be put on the list of carcinogens where it belongs. Then other countries can be alerted to decide if their workers can handle it, or not," wrote StanRogersFan.

Some commenters reflected the government's position on chrysotile asbestos.

"Asbestos is a legitimate product with amazing properties that is absolutely safe when handled and used properly. If the delegate had assisted in listing the product, it would have hurt Canadian economic interests," wrote TimothyRiches.

"Asbestos is safe if handled correctly, and safe if used correctly. It is not like asbestos is tobacco or something that has no value and has NO safe way of usage. Far more people die from cigarettes," wrote saskatchewinner.

"Asbestos is safe if handled properly, the problem is the third world countries are not handling it properly," wrote tdot34. "Canada should take the lead and promote safe handling, and make sure this stuff isn't being put into buildings or used as insulation."

There are two more days of talks before the Rotterdam Convention meetings close. The next meetings to discuss additions to the list will take place in two years.

Should Canada continue its objection to adding chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention list of hazardous substances?