QUEBEC - If the Quebec government will guarantee a $58-million loan, and if mine workers will create a reserve fund, the Jeffrey asbestos mine in the town of Asbestos will expand to underground operations. There is one other asbestos mine in Canada, the Black Lake mine at Thetford Mines 90 km away.
The miners are being asked to agree to a five-year labour contract and establish a $10-million reserve fund. Money for the fund would come from 10% of their salaries. At the end of the period, if the mine is still operating, the $10 million will be distributed among the miners. If the mine fails, the government will get control of the fund.
When the $58 million loan is secured, a coalition of local businesses will donate $1.6 million toward the reopening effort.
The town of Asbestos is badly in need of an economic boost. The use of asbestos has been linked to multiple health problems and fallen out of favour. Without markets, the mines have been on the verge of collapse. Reviving the 130-year-old Jeffrey mine would create an estimated 400 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs in the area. The mine is privately owned by Bernard Coulombe.
Comments
Ban Asbestos Now
I’m all about spurring the economy and creating jobs…but I can’t help but feel like it’s backwards that Canada is boosting an industry that produces a hazardous material that’s barred from use within its own borders. We should be striving for a ban – http://www.banasbestosnow.com – rather than expanding this particular industry.
Carl
In today world, the use of asbestos is controlled and health hazard is controlled as well. Yes, it is an hazardous material, just like all radioactive material or others that can be as bad for health. But the product as a use. If the product is manipulated the right way, it’s not worst than anything else. One of the biggest costumer of asbestos is in the USA, it’s call NASA. I think if NASA is still using asbestos, it’s probably because they haven’t found any equivalent material, so I think the material still have a purpose. To ban asbestos would be a big mistake to me.