Killing for profit: our asbestos scandal

Asbestos is a deadly product that we export to Third World countries while making its use illegal here.

I wrote about this last Fall, and have no wish to repeat myself at length. But nothing has changed. The Harper government is still sitting on a report that condemns the use of asbestos, after lying about its contents to the point that the scientists involved publicly protested. We have engaged in disgraceful shenanigans to keep asbestos off the list of proscribed substances under the Rotterdam Convention.

And Third World workers continue to die agonizing deaths.

All this to save 700 part-time jobs in Quebec.

Enter Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff. Here's the latest Iggy two-step:

Last weekend: "I'm probably walking right off the cliff into some unexpected public policy bog of which I'm unaware, but if asbestos is bad for Parliamentarians in the Parliament of Canada, it just has to be bad for everybody else," he said. "Our export of this dangerous product overseas has to stop."

Wednesday: "We have had 60 years of experience with this product. What I said in answer to a question is that we have an obligation to international agreements to the countries that we export to, to make them aware of the risks. That is all I said."

In Quebec, Canada's last asbestos mine is busy churning out death to brown people in other lands, and to its own citizens, too. But for former human rights advocate Michael Ignatieff, if it means a few more votes for his party--their deaths are worth it.

[H/t Accidental Deliberations]