April 28th, 2005

A Manitoba woman has urged the federal government for assistance in order to encourage potential victims of asbestos exposure to get testing and necessary treatment. The woman, Raven Thundersky, states that her childhood home was packed with asbestos laden insulation that made her and her family ill. She now states that there are further cases of this type of problem on reserves in Manitoba.

Raven has stated that the government is going to have to take action fast if they are to get others to seek testing and treatment in the event that they also lived in such conditions. She stated, "Some of the people we're up against seem to be shoving a lot of misinformation down people's throats. That needs to stop so the ones who are affected by asbestos have a chance at life."

Only last year the woman and her sister took legal action against the government, claiming that their sisters died from exposure to the asbestos from the vermiculite insulation. Raven stated that she and other relations have also been diagnosed with various asbestos related health problems.

In the meantime, the government has yet to respond to the action being taken. However, with regards to vermiculite insulation removal in properties that may still contain this type of insulation, the Housing Minister, Joe Fontana, has already stated that it may pose only a potential risk and therefore the government won’t be paying to have it removed.