International health and environmental authorities have refuted industry claims about the supposed safety of Canadian chrysotile (white) asbestos, and have warned about the proliferation of industry spin dressed up as scientific evidence. MiningWatch Canada, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, and three national trade unions paid for a two page spread in the Hill Times newspaper presenting their case. The article was timed to coincide with a 23-24 May conference in Montreal, organised by asbestos industry lobby groups the Chrysotile Institute and the International Chrysotile Association.

The campaigners say the event has been heavily subsidised by asbestos companies and the Canadian and Quebec governments. They add that the industry defence of chrysotile is out of step with all the major international agencies, including WHO, IARC and ILO, who all say chrysotile is a potent killer. The groups conclude: 'Canadians should be ashamed of the duplicitous role our government is playing in promoting an industry that spreads death and destruction all over the globe.' They add: 'It was the Canadian government that initiated a legal action at the World Trade Organisation against the French national ban on asbestos. It was Canadian officials who orchestrated the blocking of a United Nations proposal to impose minimal safeguards on the global trade in chrysotile in 2003 and 2004. Our country is increasingly being seen as a pariah nation by the growing number of people who know the real truth about asbestos - it is a killer fibre which has no place in 21st century trade and commerce. It should be banned at home and it should be banned globally.'

• Hill Times document
• Mining Watch Website