![\"A](\"https:\/\/central.bcwebinc.com\/~rightcan\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Demos-in-Delhi-4-300x225.jpg\" "\\"Appeal")
A sign held by demonstrators in Delhi (Photo: Building & Woodworkers International)<\/p><\/div>\n
Facult\u00e9 de m\u00e9decine<\/p>\n
D\u00e9partement de m\u00e9decine sociale et pr\u00e9ventive<\/p>\n
Universit\u00e9 Laval, Qu\u00e9bec<\/p>\n
March 25, 2010<\/p>\n
Dear Premier Charest:<\/p>\n
We are extremely disappointed by your response to the letter of February 10, 2010, which asked you to stop wrongly claiming that the World Health Organisation (WHO) supports your position on asbestos.<\/p>\n
In fact, far from supporting your position, the WHO has repeatedly called for an end to the use of all forms of asbestos (chrysotile asbestos representing 100% of the world asbestos trade).<\/p>\n
We are shocked that, instead of correcting the misinformation about the WHO, your response of March 5 to Dr. Abby Lippman now puts forward further misinformation. Specifically, your letter seeks to justify continued use of asbestos by referring to an International Labour Organization Convention and Resolution of a quarter of a century ago (1986 ILO Convention 162, 1986 Recommendation 172).<\/p>\n
Your letter omits to mention, however, that in 2006 the ILO passed a Resolution on Asbestos, which urges ending use of asbestos as \u201cthe most effective means to protect workers from asbestos exposure and to prevent future asbestos related diseases and deaths\u201d. How could you have failed to mention this in your letter?<\/p>\n
Furthermore, this 2006 Resolution specifically says \u201cthe Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) should not be used to provide a justification for, or endorsement of, the continued use of asbestos.\u201d In your letter, M. Charest, are you not doing exactly what the 2006 ILO Resolution specifically says should not be done?<\/p>\n
We are also very troubled to find other points in your letter (that exposure of up to one fibre of chrysotile asbestos per cubic centimetre of air, as permitted under Quebec regulations, presents negligible risk; that asbestos is being safely managed in Quebec) which have been completely repudiated by your own government health experts, as well s by the world\u2019s leading health authorities.<\/p>\n
We believe that in refusing to heed the position of reputable scientific authorities, such as the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, the National Public Health Institute of Quebec and the WHO, and by putting forward information that is categorically repudiated by the world\u2019s health authorities, your government is betraying both independent science and public health and is allowing the asbestos lobby to set your government\u2019s policy on asbestos.<\/p>\n
Moreover, we find it indefensible that, as the result of your government\u2019s policy, those who are thus being exposed to harm from asbestos-related disease and death are amongst the most vulnerable populations in the developing world.<\/p>\n
We therefore, with respect, repeat the request for a meeting and repeat the request that you publicly correct the misleading information you have given about the position of the WHO and the ILO.<\/p>\n
We look forward to receiving your response.<\/p>\n
Yours sincerely,<\/p>\n
DR YV BONNIER VIGER,\u00a0 MD, M\u00e9decin sp\u00e9cialiste en sant\u00e9 communautaire, Professeur au d\u00e9partement de m\u00e9decine sociale et pr\u00e9ventive de l’Universit\u00e9 Laval, Pr\u00e9sident de l\u2019Association des m\u00e9decins sp\u00e9cialistes en sant\u00e9 communautaire du Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n On behalf of:<\/p>\n DR FERNAND TURCOTTE, MD, Professeur \u00e9m\u00e9rite au d\u00e9partement de m\u00e9decine sociale et pr\u00e9ventive, Facult\u00e9 de M\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 Laval, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n DR PIERRE DESHAIES, MD, MSc, CSPQ, FRCPC, Professeur de clinique, D\u00e9partement de m\u00e9decine sociale et pr\u00e9ventive, Facult\u00e9 de m\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 Laval, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n DR ABBY LIPPMAN, PhD, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n DR PIERRE BIRON, MD,\u00a0 Professeur retrait\u00e9, Facult\u00e9 de m\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n DR KAPIL KHATTER, MD, President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment<\/em><\/p>\n DR TIM TAKARO, MD, MPH, MS., Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, BC<\/em><\/p>\n DR COLIN SOSKOLNE, Ph.D., Professor (Epidemiology), Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta<\/em><\/p>\n DR JOHN LAST, MD, DPH, FRACP, FRCPC FFPH (UK), FACPM, FACE, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario<\/em><\/p>\n DR MICHELINE BEAUDRY, Ph.D., Professeure titulaire retrait\u00e9e, D\u00e9partement des sciences des aliments et de nutrition, FSAA, Universit\u00e9 Laval, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n KATHLEEN RUFF, Senior advisor on human rights, Rideau Institute on International Affairs, Ottawa, Ontario<\/em><\/p>\n Cc: Pauline Marois, chef du Parti Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois<\/p>\n G\u00e9rard Deltell, chef de l\u2019Action d\u00e9mocratique du Qu\u00e9bec<\/p>\n Amir Khadir, chef de Qu\u00e9bec Solidaire<\/p>\n NOTE: Institutions named for identification purposes only<\/p>\n *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *<\/p>\n Le 25 mars 2010<\/p>\n Monsieur le premier ministre,<\/p>\n Nous sommes extr\u00eamement d\u00e9\u00e7us de la r\u00e9ponse que vous nous avez donn\u00e9e. Le 10 f\u00e9vrier dernier nous vous demandions de cesser de pr\u00e9tendre que l\u2019Organisation Mondiale de la Sant\u00e9 (OMS) est d\u2019accord avec votre politique sur l\u2019amiante.<\/p>\n En v\u00e9rit\u00e9, l\u2019OMS ne soutient aucunement vos vues et r\u00e9clame depuis des ann\u00e9es qu\u2019on mette fin \u00e0 toute utilisation de l\u2019amiante, sous toutes ses formes, ce qui vaut pour l\u2019amiante chrysotile qui compte pour 100% du march\u00e9 contemporain de ce min\u00e9ral.[1]<\/p>\n Nous sommes constern\u00e9s du fait qu\u2019au lieu de corriger cette erreur \u00e0 propos de la position de l\u2019OMS, votre r\u00e9ponse du 5 mars au docteur Abby Lippman rajoute \u00e0 la d\u00e9sinformation. Votre lettre tente en fait de justifier la poursuite de l\u2019exploitation de l\u2019amiante par une r\u00e9f\u00e9rence \u00e0 une r\u00e9solution adopt\u00e9e par l\u2019Organisation Internationale du Travail, il y a un quart de si\u00e8cle (1986 OIT Convention 162, 1986 Recommandation 172).<\/p>\n Votre lettre ne dit pas toutefois qu\u2019en 2006, l\u2019OIT a adopt\u00e9 une nouvelle r\u00e9solution sur l\u2019amiante demandant qu\u2019on cesse d\u2019utiliser l\u2019amiante parce que c\u2019est \u00ab le moyen le plus efficace de prot\u00e9ger les travailleurs contre l\u2019exposition \u00e0 cette substance et ainsi pr\u00e9venir l\u2019apparition des maladies et des d\u00e9c\u00e8s li\u00e9s \u00e0 l\u2019amiante \u00bb.[2] Comment avez-vous pu omettre cette information dans votre lettre?<\/p>\n Mais il y a pis, puisque la r\u00e9solution de 2006 stipule aussi que \u00ab la convention (n\u00ba 162) sur l\u2019amiante, 1986, ne devrait pas servir \u00e0 justifier ou \u00e0 accepter la poursuite de l\u2019usage de cette substance. \u00bb Est-ce que dans votre lettre du 5 mars, vous ne commettez pas pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment ce qu\u2019interdit la r\u00e9solution 2006 de l\u2019OIT?<\/p>\n D\u2019autres arguments de votre lettre nous plongent dans la perplexit\u00e9, notamment que l\u2019exposition \u00e0 une fibre d\u2019amiante par centim\u00e8tre cube d\u2019air (le niveau \u00e9lev\u00e9 permis par le r\u00e8glement sur la sant\u00e9 et la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 du travail) ne constitue qu\u2019un risque n\u00e9gligeable. Ou bien encore que l\u2019amiante soit utilis\u00e9 d\u2019une mani\u00e8re s\u00e9curitaire au Qu\u00e9bec. Autant d\u2019\u00e9nonc\u00e9s tenus pour invalides tant par les experts en sant\u00e9 de votre gouvernement que par les scientifiques de la sant\u00e9 du monde entier.<\/p>\n Nous estimons que vous n\u2019avez pas le droit de ne pas tenir compte de l\u2019\u00e9tat actuel des connaissances relay\u00e9es, entre autres, par des organismes comme l\u2019Association m\u00e9dicale du Canada, la Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 canadienne du cancer, l\u2019Institut national de sant\u00e9 publique du Qu\u00e9bec et l\u2019OMS. Vous n\u2019avez pas non plus le droit de diss\u00e9miner des informations tenues pour invalides par les autorit\u00e9s sanitaires du monde entier. Ce faisant, votre gouvernement trahit tant la science d\u00e9sint\u00e9ress\u00e9e que la sant\u00e9 publique et fait preuve d\u2019irresponsabilit\u00e9 en abandonnant au lobby de l\u2019amiante le soin de d\u00e9finir la politique de l\u2019amiante.<\/p>\n Nous tenons pour ind\u00e9fendable qu\u2019en raison d\u2019une politique d\u00e9raisonnable de votre gouvernement, les souffrances et la mortalit\u00e9 provoqu\u00e9es par l\u2019amiante soient export\u00e9es vers les populations les plus vuln\u00e9rables du tiers monde.<\/p>\n Nous r\u00e9it\u00e9rons, Monsieur le premier ministre, les demandes que nous vous avons faites, d\u2019une rencontre avec vous et d\u2019une rectification publique des informations erron\u00e9es que vous avez communiqu\u00e9es \u00e0 propos des prises de position de l\u2019OMS et de l\u2019OIT.<\/p>\n En attendant votre r\u00e9ponse, nous vous r\u00e9it\u00e9rons l\u2019expression de nos sentiments distingu\u00e9s.<\/p>\n DR YV BONNIER VIGER,\u00a0 MD, M\u00e9decin sp\u00e9cialiste en sant\u00e9 communautaire, Professeur au d\u00e9partement de m\u00e9decine sociale et pr\u00e9ventive de l’Universit\u00e9 Laval, Pr\u00e9sident de l\u2019Association des m\u00e9decins sp\u00e9cialistes en sant\u00e9 communautaire du Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n Au nom de:<\/p>\n DR FERNAND TURCOTTE, MD, Professeur \u00e9m\u00e9rite au d\u00e9partement de m\u00e9decine sociale et pr\u00e9ventive, Facult\u00e9 de M\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 Laval, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n DR PIERRE DESHAIES, MD, MSc, CSPQ, FRCPC, Professeur de clinique, D\u00e9partement de m\u00e9decine sociale et pr\u00e9ventive, Facult\u00e9 de m\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 Laval, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n DR ABBY LIPPMAN, PhD, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n DR PIERRE BIRON, MD,\u00a0 Professeur retrait\u00e9, Facult\u00e9 de m\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n DR KAPIL KHATTER, MD, President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment<\/em><\/p>\n DR TIM TAKARO, MD, MPH, MS., Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, BC<\/em><\/p>\n DR COLIN SOSKOLNE, Ph.D., Professor (Epidemiology), Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta<\/em><\/p>\n DR JOHN LAST, MD, DPH, FRACP, FRCPC FFPH (UK), FACPM, FACE, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario<\/em><\/p>\n DR MICHELINE BEAUDRY, Ph.D., Professeure titulaire retrait\u00e9e, D\u00e9partement des sciences des aliments et de nutrition, FSAA, Universit\u00e9 Laval, Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/p>\n KATHLEEN RUFF, Senior advisor on human rights, Rideau Institute on International Affairs, Ottawa, Ontario<\/em><\/p>\n Cc: Pauline Marois, chef du Parti Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois<\/p>\n G\u00e9rard Deltell, chef de l\u2019Action d\u00e9mocratique du Qu\u00e9bec<\/p>\n Amir Khadir, chef de Qu\u00e9bec Solidaire<\/p>\n NOTE: Institutions nomm\u00e9es pour raisons d’identification seulement<\/p>\n [1] \u00c9limination des maladies li\u00e9es \u00e0 l\u2019amiante, http:\/\/whqlibdoc.who.int\/hq\/2006\/WHO_SDE_OEH_06.03_fre.pdf; Cancer Control, WHO Guide (page 30) http:\/\/www.who.int\/cancer\/modules\/Prevention%20Module.pdf<\/p>\n [2] R\u00e9solution concernant d\u2019amiante, Organisation Internationale du Travail, 14 juin 2006<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.ilo.org\/wcmsp5\/groups\/public\/—ed_norm\/—relconf\/documents\/meetingdocument\/wcms_gb_297_3_1_fr.pdf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the letter below, Quebec medical experts and health advocates challenge Premier Charest to stop betraying independent science on asbestos harm and to stop betraying public health.\u00a0 “We find it indefensible that, as the result of your government\u2019s policy, those who are being exposed to harm from asbestos-related disease and death are amongst the most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[47,16,137,93,38],"class_list":["post-767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-asbestos-exports","tag-developing-countries","tag-international-labour-organisation","tag-quebec","tag-world-health-organization"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=767"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":818,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767\/revisions\/818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}