Saskatoon MP garners support for asbestos bill
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour backs countrywide ban
A Saskatoon NDP member of Parliament is getting local support for her effort to pass a private member's bill on asbestos in Canada.
NDP labour critic and Saskatoon West MP Sheri Benson has proposed a bill that prohibits the "manufacture, use, sale and offer for sale, or import of, asbestos-containing material or products,."
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The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour's parent organization, the Canadian Labour Congress, has recently released two online videos to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. Inhaling it puts people at risk for developing cancer.
Too many Canadians have lost their health, their livelihood and their loved ones.- Saskatoon West MP Sheri Benson
Federation of Labour president Larry Hubich offered this analogy when explaining his support of the ban: "Can you imagine if we had poison seeping into our drinking water in a workplace and as a result a third of the people who were dying in that workplace were dying because they were drinking poison on a daily basis?"
On Monday, he participated in an event with Benson to back the bill. They were joined by Jesse Todd with the Saskatchewan Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Todd is the stepson of Howard Willem, the inspiration behind Benson's bill.
Willem died from asbestos related cancer and fought for a registry of buildings in Saskatchewan where asbestos can be found.
"Not only did he fight for his own life but he also fought to save the lives of others," said Benson.
The MP said she will not only push to have her private member's bill passed, but will also ask the Liberal government to live up to its promise to ban asbestos in Canada. Benson said she would like to see some progress on the issue before the end of the year.
"It's in our homes, our school and our hospitals," she said.
"Too many Canadians have lost their health, their livelihood and their loved ones."