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e-4375 (Health)
- Keywords
- Asbestos
- Water mains
- Water quality
E-petition
Initiated by Mary Ann SjogrenBranch from Regina, Saskatchewan
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
- It is well known that asbestos is a highly toxic carcinogen;
- Scientific evidence indicates that asbestos is harmful when ingested as well as when inhaled;
- Canada does not regulate asbestos in drinking water;
- Asbestos cement water pipes deliver water to millions of Canadians via municipal water systems;
- Legacy asbestos cement water pipes are in use across Canada, particularly in older neighbourhoods that may be home to more vulnerable, lower income populations;
- Asbestos cement water pipes were exempt from a ban on asbestos in Canada; and
- The Government of Canada is currently conducting Canada’s first National Infrastructure Assessment.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to
1. Take urgent steps to assess health risks of asbestos in drinking water, in order for the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee to establish a drinking water quality guideline;
2. Include an inventory of asbestos cement water pipes, and assessment of their condition, as a part of ongoing infrastructure assessment;
3. Release this data publicly in accessible formats;
4. Develop a plan to replace and dispose of asbestos cement water pipes safely, including worker protection;
5. Advance prior and informed consent for trans-boundary transportation of asbestos-containing waste; and
6. Establish an Asbestos Eradication Agency to evaluate and address asbestos in the natural and built environment, including occupational settings.
