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Saskatchewan buildings with asbestos may not make public registry: NDP

Nov 14, 2012 | 10:39 AM

Saskatchewan residents will now know what public buildings in the province have asbestos, but the list might not be complete.

The legislative building and courthouses are some examples of buildings that will appear on a list the government of Saskatchewan will make public online. But the government has left it up to school divisions, health regions and others to decide whether to be a part of the registry.

The NDP is supportive of the move, but maintains it doesn't go far enough. It was their party that introduced the Asbestos Right to Know Act last week in the legislature.

NDP MLA Cam Broten argues the registry as the government has designed it won't be comprehensive.

“(That) falls short of meeting the goal and the desire of Howard Willems and the many advocates who want to reduce the number of asbestos-related diseases in our society,” said Broten.

Willems worked as a building inspector for 31 years and had mesothelioma, a very rare form of cancer that comes from inhaling asbestos fibres. He supported the bill the NDP introduced.

Willems argued that people should know if they're going into buildings that have asbestos — especially if construction is being done because it stirs up hazardous fibres.

“Look at the impact it will have on future generations,” he said. Willems died last week.

Inhaling asbestos fibres can lead to often fatal lung diseases. It was no longer used in buildings by the 1980s.

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