ASBESTOS, Que. — The province of Quebec is offering a financial crutch to help take one of Canada’s last-remaining asbestos mines off life- support.
Quebec’s economic development minister is pledging $7.5 million in support to help revive the cash-strapped Jeffrey Mine in the city of Asbestos.
Clement Gignac says he is giving his conditional support to a project aimed at relaunching the controversial asbestos mine.
A consortium of investors is still hoping the province will guarantee a $58-million bank loan they say is crucial to restarting the operation.
Canada’s embattled chrysotile asbestos industry has faced widespread, international criticism.
Health experts, labour groups and activists from around the globe have been urging the province to refrain from supporting the mine.
They are calling for the government to stop Quebec’s exports of the cancer-causing material to developing countries.
They say there’s no guarantee in these poorer regions that it’s handled safely.
But supporters of the project say the mine’s relaunch will bring more than 400 jobs to the region.
They say chrysotile asbestos is safe to handle as long as guidelines are followed.