Evidence of meeting #36 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was women.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Mr. Thomas, I asked you a question earlier. Each time a study is published that indicates an increase in cancer cases in aboriginal populations, a few months or years later, other studies show that the entire thing was false and fabricated. I sometimes wonder why there is such a denigration of the work done to protect people's health.
How do you explain this?
Scientist, Mikisew Cree First Nation
First, I want to specify that I'm a wildlife biologist and not an expert in human health.
Welcome to the world of science, where a study conducted by an individual or group contradicts another study. It's the nature of science. It's the case everywhere, whether we're dealing with oil sands or cancer cases in Fort Chipewyan.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I want to talk briefly about mercury. We have worked a lot on the mercury issue. Our colleague Mr. Fisher from the Liberal Party tabled a bill to remove a great deal of mercury from circulation and to do so more effectively.
What are we currently doing about the other sources of mercury, such as those in the Alberta region?
Scientist, Mikisew Cree First Nation
The two main forms of mercury are inorganic mercury, to which animals in the environment don't have access, and organic mercury, which is methylated. The mercury accumulates in organisms and causes neurotoxic effects, especially in women and small children.
The mercury cycle is therefore complex. There's still much work to be done. In particular, we need to understand what can methylate inorganic mercury in its main form, which can be dangerous.
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
Okay, I gave you almost an extra four minutes there, in addition to the three minutes, so we're just going to add four minutes onto everybody.
Mr. Eglinski, you have four minutes.
I understand you will be splitting the time with Mr. Shields.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
We have an excellent panel and we've had some great questions, so I just thought we wouldn't waste the time if we have it.
Go ahead, Mr. Shields.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to go back to asbestos. I think you identified—and I want to make sure of this—eliminating brake pads in the country, terminating international trading of products with asbestos, and no longer using the pipes that contain it as our first steps. Those were the items you identified.
Vice-President, Public Issues, Policy and Cancer Information, Canadian Cancer Society
Yes.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
How do you get rid of brake pads containing asbestos in this country? How would you deal with that? There are a lot of old cars out there.
Vice-President, Public Issues, Policy and Cancer Information, Canadian Cancer Society
Do you mean that already exist—
Vice-President, Public Issues, Policy and Cancer Information, Canadian Cancer Society
—and are already on cars?
Vice-President, Public Issues, Policy and Cancer Information, Canadian Cancer Society
There is definitely going to be a period when those products can no longer be legally bought, traded, exported, imported, or used. They'll be completely phased out of the system. There will be some that are already either on cars or you'll have inventory that an auto body shop will have or something like that.
In response to what was said earlier, it means stepping up the efforts to make sure that people have the information on how to safely handle those materials and to make sure that the regulations on a safe exposure level are very clear. This also speaks to the point that Mr. Fast raised about there being some bigger questions here about how we move into a post-asbestos world. We have a bit more work to do on that.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Good. That was what I was asking, but you have more work to do to get there.
Vice-President, Public Issues, Policy and Cancer Information, Canadian Cancer Society
Yes.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
You're identifying the issues, but you haven't figured out how to do it yet.
Vice-President, Public Issues, Policy and Cancer Information, Canadian Cancer Society
Yes—not all of it, for sure.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
If you have anything that you would like to submit to us on how we could do that, that's what we would be looking for.
Vice-President, Public Issues, Policy and Cancer Information, Canadian Cancer Society
That's great. Thank you.
