When we launched the ABS Asbestos Offensive, the promise to ban asbestos was still just that - a promise

On December 15th 2016, the Canadian government announced it will move forward to fulfill its commitment to ban asbestos and asbestos containing products by the year 2018. While the ban is long overdue, we are thankful it will finally happen.

Working with local politicians Liz Sandals, Frank Valeriote and Lloyd Longfield for over fifteen years, ABS has been creating awareness around the dangers of asbestos. We would like to thank them for their ongoing efforts and support. We have twice seen "ban asbestos" private members' bill reach second reading, only to stall for one reason or another.

We also want to acknowledge the heroic efforts made by the families of the asbestos victims who have been stalwart and resolute in their efforts to raise awareness of asbestos' deadly heritage from their first hand experience.

But the job is not over yet.

The ban does not take effect until 2018, so there is a continued opportunity to raise and increase awareness around asbestos. ABS Friction, in promoting their Asbestos Offensive initiative, has been shocked at the alarming number of mechanics who believe asbestos had already been banned. Until imported brake pads with asbestos are banned two years from now, ABS will continue to communicate the dangers of asbestos to the automotive community.

In addition to banning asbestos, ABS urges the Canadian government to not stop there. Taking a page from the states of California and Washington's treatment of toxic materials, we urge the Canadian government to also ban chromium, mercury, copper, cadmium, lead and zinc along with asbestos.

ABS Friction manufactures brake pads in our facility in Guelph, Ontario. As a Canadian manufacturer making non-asbestos brake pads for over 20 years, we added our voice to raise awareness. Over the years, we have seen first-hand the effects of asbestos exposure on mechanics and other tradespeople.

VIEW ABS Friction featured on DAILY PLANET March 15, 2016 regarding brake safety: "You get what you pay for…"