Saskatoon NDP MP Sheri Benson introduces bill to ban asbestos

Saskatoon NDP member of parliament Sheri Benson wants to see a comprehensive ban on asbestos in Canada.

Last week, the MP for Saskatoon West introduced a private member’s bill that would prohibit asbestos manufacturing.

The bill also calls for an end to the use, sale, offering for sale or importing certain toxic substances that cause significant danger to the environment or to human life or health.

“This is a non-partisan issue and I am open to working with the government to end asbestos use in Canada,” Benson said.

“I hope that this bill will have the support of the government, and every Member of Parliament.”

READ MORE: Government moving to ban asbestos, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

In May, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his Liberal government would ban asbestos nation-wide.

“We’ve actually made a commitment that we’re moving forward on a ban here in Canada,” Trudeau said at the time.

“We are moving to ban asbestos. We know that its impact on workers far outweighs any benefit that it might provide.”

Benson’s bill is supported by Jesse Todd, who is the stepson of Howard Willem.

Willem died in 2012 after battling a rare form of cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibres while he was working as a federal food inspector.

“Asbestos doesn’t discriminate. There are still far too many stories of asbestos exposure in Canada,” said Todd, who is also the chair of the Saskatchewan Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

There is no reason to delay legislation any longer,” said Todd.

In 2013, Saskatchewan enacted Willem’s Law, which made asbestos reporting mandatory, the first province to have a mandated registry.

READ MORE: Asbestos-related cancers on rise: StatsCan

The World Health Organization has labeled asbestos as a carcinogen and has called for an end to its use.

Labour and health groups in Canada have been calling for a blanket ban for years, similar to ones already in place in Europe and Australia.