ARTICLE · 22 MAY 2017

Say Goodbye To Asbestos: A Government Proposed Ban

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

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In late 2016, Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan, along with three other ministers, announced that the Canadian government is moving to ban asbestos and asbestos-containing products by 2018.

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In late 2016, Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan, along with three other ministers, announced that the Canadian government is moving to ban asbestos and asbestos-containing products by 2018. The ban will apply to the use, manufacture, import and export of any product containing asbestos, the goal being to eventually reduce the rate of asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestos in Canada

Canada began mining asbestos back in the 1870s, and soon became one of the world's largest producers. After many years of success, Canada's last asbestos mine closed in 2011. Although our mines are now closed, Canada continues to import millions of dollars' worth of asbestos products every year. Brake pads and construction materials are just some of the products containing asbestos that are imported into Canada each year. In fact, last year alone a total of $8.3 million in asbestos-related products were imported into our country.

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