The chair of The Victims of Chemical Valley calls it a good start.
Sandra Kinart said the federal government's announcement Thursday that it's prohibiting the import, sale and use of asbestos, as well as the manufacture of asbestos-containing products, is great news.
"It has been a very long time coming and pleased that the government has put out the announcement now," said Kinart. "We look forward to driving change still. The ban isn't complete until it's the way we would like to see it but it's a good start. They have not included chloroacetaldehyde, they've exempted them and the stockpiles that are still in the country."
The new regulations will come into effect December 30, 2018, but won't apply to 800 million tonnes of residues left from mining asbestos in two Quebec towns -- Thetford Mines and Asbestos.
Kinart said her goal is still for an asbestos-free Canada.
"This is about my community, my country, every man and woman who go to work and every homeowner because it's in our homes now too," said Kinart. "There's so much involved, it's not just yes we've got a ban and everything's good for us, families every day there's always somebody being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness caused from asbestos."
Kinart has been lobbying for a complete ban of asbestos over 15 years, having watched five members of her family, including her husband, die of asbestos-related illness.
Sandy Kinart speaks at Sarnia's Day of Mourning ceremony. April 28, 2016.
