Government of Quebec

Extracts of 2002 communiqué from the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources

"The Quebec Government adopts a policy for the increased and safe use of chrysotile asbestos".

Thetford Mines, June 20, 2002 - The Minister of Natural Resources for Quebec, Mr. François Gagnon, accompanied by the Member of Parliament for Frontenac, Mr. Marc Boulianne, announced the Policy for increased and safe use of Chrysotile Asbestos in Quebec adopted by the cabinet yesterday.

"The Policy is part of the sustained effort of the Quebec Government with regard to the chrysotile industry. It should permit, in the medium term, a doubling of the internal demand for chrysotile asbestos (from 6,000 to 12,000 tonnes) and to ensure the safe use of chrysotile asbestos products known for their unique physical and chemical properties".

Principal elements of policy on chrysotile:

• A requirement that the specifications and requests for quotations of the Ministries and those bodies responsible for works authorize products containing chrysotile asbestos and consider them equally with competitive products, providing they meet the technical requirements of the specifications ;
• That the Ministry of Transport continue with their evaluation of asphalt coverings containing chrysotile asbestos for use on Quebec roads according to parameters related to workplace health and safety as well as the environment;
• The establishment by the Ministry of Natural Resources of a program to aid research and development and commercialization of new chrysotile asbestos products;
• The evaluation of feasibility of manufacturing plant for chrysotile asbestos cement products in Quebec;
• The preparation by the Ministry of Health and Social Services of a program of research and follow-up on the eventual risks of new chrysotile asbestos products;
• The introduction by the "Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST" of safe use of chrysotile asbestos by amongst others, a program of training for business susceptible to be using chrysotile asbestos products, and by tractability standards of products used;
• The elaboration of a communication plan destined to explain the Policy to the public, to government decision makers, to eventual users and to the concerned professional orders and associations.

"The Policy for increased and safe use of chrysotile asbestos in Quebec" was elaborated by an interministerial  committee grouping a dozen Ministries and public bodies, presided over by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

«The chrysotile asbestos industry and its applications are very different today from the past, at a time when workplace health standards were clearly more rudimentary. Used with the necessary care, chrysotile asbestos products offer numerous advantages at low risk. This is what the Policy adopted yesterday will permit demonstrating, while encouraging the future of the chrysotile asbestos industry and the perpetuity of hundreds of direct jobs in the concerned regions», concluded Minister Gendron.
The Policy of increased and safe use of chrysotile asbestos in Quebec is available at the following website: http://www.mrn.gouv.qc.ca/ministere/politiques/