December 28th, 2005

The labor minister for Saskatchewan, Deb Higgins, is currently looking at a proposal for a ban on asbestos in Saskatchewan after being lobbied in relation to a ban on the potentially fatal substance. The proposal is to ban asbestos being brought into Saskatchewan. The group lobbying the labor minister states that this substance should not be allowed to be brought into the province and that it is highly dangerous and potentially deadly.

Nine workers in the Province are reported to have died last year from asbestos exposure according the to the Saskatchewan Federation of Labor. The mineral is known to cause a variety of health problems when airborne fibers or dust are inhaled or ingested at high levels of over long periods, and can also cause a deadly cancer.

Ban Asbestos Saskatchewan, the group that is doing the lobbying, want to stop all exports of asbestos. They are particularly keen to stop exports to countries where there is no regulation with regards to its use. The group has stated that the government should also provide more education with regards to asbestos in the home and where it might be found.

The labor minister has stated that the proposal needs to be studied further and that she will be conducting some research with regards to imported and exported asbestos and asbestos products.