The Asbestos Mining Industry and its Legacy

For much of the 20th century, the town of Thetford Mines, Quebec, was known as the heart of Canada's asbestos mining industry. Asbestos, a mineral used in a variety of industries for its fire-resistant properties, became one of the country's most lucrative exports. At its peak, Thetford Mines was home to the world’s largest asbestos mines. However, the industry's success came at a significant cost.

Despite growing evidence that asbestos exposure was linked to severe health risks, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, Canada continued to mine and export asbestos well into the 1980s. For decades, the government and the companies involved downplayed the dangers of asbestos, prioritizing the economic benefits of mining over the health of workers and the public. Asbestos was widely used in construction materials, insulation, and automotive products, and its dangers were largely ignored or hidden from the public.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the first significant studies linking asbestos exposure to fatal diseases emerged, leading to widespread concern and calls for action. By the late 1980s, a public outcry grew over the environmental and health impacts of the industry. Workers in the mines, as well as residents of Thetford Mines and other asbestos-producing regions, were found to suffer from respiratory illnesses and cancers at a much higher rate than the general population.

Eventually, Canada’s position on asbestos began to shift. By the early 2000s, public health groups and the international community, including the World Health Organization (WHO), had reached a consensus that asbestos should be banned globally. Canada began to close its asbestos mines in the 1970s, but the final mine shut down only in 2011. In 2018, Canada officially banned the manufacture, use, and import of asbestos, marking the end of an era for a once-thriving industry.

The asbestos mining industry and its legacy remain a controversial chapter in Canada’s history. Many feel the government’s failure to take early action in protecting workers and the public from the harmful effects of asbestos led to unnecessary suffering and loss of life. Today, the story of asbestos serves as a powerful reminder of the need for stronger regulation in industries that impact public health.