Document 2qoZeModz6qzGG1Bepr3OLGxN

r b iV. ' &*' w,. -*. :i fv I *' 4 r) r*V t. . nL ' r'-i.v .. u *-.._ OS- v.y *. ft ***** tC"' '!'!. [gfe. _?* - 6--. -.................. fciy- ...... 4 ... _ . , ~ y /... i*; . S5fs??wT5* ' ^-7' ,. . QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION SPEC I AlT WINTER ME E TING GRAND BAHAMA HOTEL Sfyfyi. . and -S'y. y:\y f:yvS.COUNTRY.'CLUB MARCH 27-30, 1968 y--' i -r ^i .t: -V r PmI A. FUlaiv :ifSi i:? ' QUEBEC . r: .S"5*ry_y__ir_ieABSBeEcStTfOtS* MuiIuNIiNuGn ','. "... --ASSOCIATION -- - '* ,V /V . .. ' . A A. W* '-*4 ****;. -;.^c :> .mm... . c ' - m* ' ** ASBESTOS CORPORATION LID., -THETFORD MINES.* QUE. . "ASBESTOS MINES LTD., rV- v;.-VJHhtr?ju>;aones..que.. ; ; CO.- v', ^.'THETFORD MINES. QUE. MINES LTD., :' ' .M*2v'*'?-.r' '.norbsstos. que..` ...:. ' - :. 'r.-r; . y _ mi f tt-im 1. List cf Officers and Directors . 2. List of Members and Guests 3. Agenda 4. Minutes of Meeting of January 15, 1968 5. Technical Committee Report .. ' . . Uniform Classification and Grading Committee Report 7* . Industrial Relations Committee Report 8. Traffic Committee Report 9. Legislation and Taxation Committee Report 10. Public Relations Report 11. Dust Abatement Committee Report 12. Addendum from General Manager 13. Asbestos in 1967 i ,, i tvJtifeidlL >r & % s H m i t 4 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 'Nr. UUU, Oughtred President s Mr. K.V. Undell Vice-President Mr. R.S. Coleman Mr. JA Main Director Director Mr. R.J. Merrill Mr. M.J. Messel Mr. P.A. Meyer Director . Director . Director ' . Mr. F.P. Smith Mr. Ivan Sabourin . ` Director General Counsel Mr. George ftctoinson Treasurer Mr. Paul A. Filteau General Manager & Secretary CDMmiTTCE- CHAIRMEN Mr. R. Dodds-Hebron Mr. ui.H. Foster Mr. I.C. Campbell Mr. I.C, Campbell Mr. J. 0. by Mr. M.J. Mcsssl Mr, K.V. Lindell Mr. J.R.M. Hutcheson - - Technical Committee Uniform Classification and Grading Committee Public Relations Committee Traffic Committee Industrial Relations Committee Legislation and Taxation Ccmmi Occupational and Environmental Health Committee Dust Abatement Committee o I * QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WINTER MEETING - GRAND BAHAMA HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB MARCH 27-30,1968 MEM8ERS AND GUESTS Asbestos Corooration Limited; .' Mr, W.W. Qughtred (Hr. A.L. Penhale fflr. j. A.O. Mgrcotte (Hr. I.C. Campbell Plr. W.H. Roster Wr. W. P. Carson Bell Asbestos (HinesLimited; . (Hr. F.P. Smith (Hr. G.W. Smith (Hr. R. Dodds-Hebron Canadian Johns-ManvilleCo. .. . '. ` Ltd; (Hr. C.S. Burnett (Hr. D.T. Colton nr. A;R. Fisher nr. D. Poutiatine nr. K.V. Undell Mr. J.Q. Eby (Hr. N.W. Hendry nr. J.R.n. Hutcheson (Hr. Y. Couture Carey-Canadian Wines Limited; Rr. R.J. Rerrill nr. A.H. Bagenstose Flintkote nines Limited : Mr. J.A. Rain Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd: National Asbestos nines Ltd: Rr. R.D. Bradford nr. n.J. nessel Mr. R.P. Gagnon Rr. L. Piuze Rr. J.W. Duncan Rr. R.N. noore Nicolet Asbestos Mines !Ltd: nr. P.A. Meyer . (Hr. G. G. Gabrialson Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (QAWA); Quebec Asbestos -Wining Association; Dr. C.hl. Wright Mr. G. Robinson . Rr. I. Sebourin Mr. Paul-A. Tilteau c c , .. r ' ' . / t- SPECIAL MEETING OF THE QUEBEC ASBESTOS LINING ASSOCIATION TO BE HELD, THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1968, AT 9.30 a.m. IN THE GRAND BAHAMA HOTEL & COUNTRY CIU8 AGENDA MARCH 28, 1968 1* Minutes of the Meeting of January 15, 1968. 2, Committee_Reports: ' a)Technical - Copant proposition re printing of "Chrysotile" on bags b/Uniform Classification and Grading c;Industrial Relations - Resolutions re Transfer of ownership of . <" Mine Rescue equipment. d^Traffic / ejLegislation and Taxation npublic Relations g)Dust Abatement 3, New Business: Amendment to By-Law No.? governing Q.A.M.A. Pension Plan. CIM Annual Meeting, April 21-24, Vancouver, 6.C.- Contribution. Provincial Mining Association Meeting, April 21. 4, Comments on General Business Conditions. 5, Revised dates and location of 1968 regular meetings. 6, Adjournment. MARCH 29, 1968 !'Occupational and Environmental Health Committee. Review of situation and work in progress. 2. Adjournment. `. >J .V*- % MINUTES OF THE 104 MEETING AND Or THE 1968 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1968, AT THE CHATEAU FRONTENAC, QUEBEC. Present: Messrs. M.J. Messel R.S. Coleman K.V. Lindell J. A.Main R.J. Merrill P.A. Meyer UI.UI. Oughtred F.P. Smith F, Bolduc J.O. Eby ' J.R.M. Hutcheson 0. Poirier Geo. Robinson . I. Sabourin P.A. Filteau Messrs. R. Dodds-Hebron, Ul.H. Foster, I.C. Campbell and P.K. Riordon were accidentally prevented from attending the meeting; the first two joined the group for luncheon. Mr. Michael J. Messel was in the chair. It was pointed out that the name of Mr. J.'*.. Main had been left out in the-minutes of the meeting of November 13th, 1967, and it was also requested that the detailed budget of the Association for 1968 be added to said minutes. Following these corrections, a motion to approve th9 minutes of November 13th, 1967, was adopted. ' INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE ' The Chairman reported that the automatic dust counter had been received and-that the engineer was proceeding with the coronation ..of the instrument against present method. The new unit can count half () micron particles as opposed to one (1) micron with the _ present instrument. The engineer will make regular visits to ell " --plants.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:------------------r.-- c i It is proposed to purchase a polaroid camera to take photos of special situations (good or bad) in plants; such photos mill require management clearance before they can be released. Activity of a new labour union within the Asbestos Industry has somewhat subsided following request for certification and subse quent visit of government inspector.' Negotiations of the new labour agreement are about to begin with two member-companies. Wining Fund - Westings have been held with the Q.M.M.A. and Or. C. Letendre to review the findings of the latter as to policies and practices applied in other provinces and other countries con cerning mine closures or eurtailement of operations and benefits granted employees affected. The review also coverec policies of provincial and federal governments in the reclassification of workers. Mr. Letendre will soon be in a position to submit a preliminary report end recommendations to our two (2) Associations. At a subsequent meeting with the Oeputy Minister of Labour, Mr. Donat Quimper and two of his assistants it was revealed that the government was contemplating for the moment to require that a 6 months notice be given in the case of shut-down of mining opera tions because of ore exhaustion. No action, however, will be taken by the Minister of Labour pending the submission of our Association on the question of a Mining fund. Wine Rescue Station Expenses for 1968 - Resolved that the allocation of costs of the Thetford Mines Rescue Station during 1968 be calculated on the following basis* .../3 > /3 Thetford Wines Rescue Station: a) Building and Equipment (Capital cost, rent, maintenance , etc.) QWfflAPA (Solbec A Cupra) QAWA b) Superintendent's Salary? 162 men 331 men 493 men 33* 67% 100* CltimAPA (South Shore) QAWA . . ' 1 542 men 331 men B73 men 62% 38* 100% c) Superintendent1 s^-Travel Expenses - . To Gaspe, Solbec, Cupra, New Calumet and Oka: - QffWAPA QAWA General Suoerintendent (Wine Rescue Traininq Plan) 100% nil Salary end Travel Expenses: .. QWWAPA QAWA 4959 men 331 men 5290 men 94* 6% 100* ADOPTED. A proposed resolution in connection with the transfer of the mine rescue buildings and equipment of'Thetford Wines to the Department .. . of Natural Resources :wae tabled, but its adoption was deferred till .next-meeting pending a letter from Asbestos Corporation Limited . ; ; granting the rights of occupation on Lot No. 25-126 to Q.A.B.A. j . .... aaid letter -to be attached to the proposed resolution in favor of . "r: <-vthe iOepartaent ' of Natural . Resources.-------------- -----------------------------^ ./a cc r ir.-r/ /* m A letter from the President of the Q.M.M.A. to the Minister of Labour concerning amendments to the labour code was tabled. It was agreed that the Q.A.M.A. would support the stand of G.M.M A. and would join in making representations at the appropriate time. LEGISLATION AND TAXATION COMMITTEE It was pointed out that the passing of the recent mini-budget by the federal minister of finance calls for an increase in personal income tax. As to the federal corporation tax, a plan on a " pay ' as you go basis M is being suggested* INSTITUTE Of OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH - Budget - A meeting of the executive committee was held on January 14 with respect to the budget of the Institute left opened at the last meeting, it was proposed that an amount of $250,000.00 for 19GB be approved. . ADOPTED. Antigua Meeting - Most doctors attending the Conference were favorably impressed, specially those who participated for the first time. As a result of a well prepared program the speakers had ex cellent presentations. One doctor (Or.Selikoff) objected that too much time had been wasted on the discussion of carcinogenesis, whereas more time should have been devoted to the problem of occupa tional and environmental exposure (community at large) not in the . -vicinity of an asbestos plant but resulting from the use of asbestos products. On the whole, e valuable relationship, according to the chairman'has bsen achieved with the doctors. The outcome of the Antigua Conference will not be known until aeveral months. It is ^ - hoped that the results of .the discussions end exhangea. eilli.-Quide._the scientific committee and advise the industry on a program for the immediate future. . .. . /S :Y'V' r>- . .'.*r^oc^i fjw> ..nu'^* r_ /. v *y. - - ..*-. -A.-y. -> :-x^; - y. <*.. .:. -v J.. /5 * It was mentioned that Johns-Manville was sponsoring research pro jects on its own, with Or. George W. Wright as a medical consultant to the President of the Company. This move should accelerate in terest among U.S. Asbestos Producers and Manufacturers, thus relie ving Q.A.ffl.A. from providing assistance to various projects. Johns- Manville has also prepared a "position paper" on asbestos and health, specially designed to answer questions of customers to sales per- sonel. A copy to be sent to all Directors. DUST ABATEMENT COMMITTEE The Chairman tabled a detailed report on the activities of his com mittee, pointing to negative and positive results. It reviews the status of Dryer Dust Collection Projects, Wet Collection Systems, Cloth Collector Installation presently under study at Lake Asbestos, Quebec, Electrostatic Precipitation Method to be investigated by Asbestos Corporation and the Rotoclone Wet Dust Collector being tested at Johns-Manville. The Committee has also agreed to inves tigate the problems associated with dust generated from the handling and stacking of tailings. ASTM D-3D Sub-Committee 111 - 7th Cooant Meetino - A report has been sent by Mr. Hutcheson to all member-companies. Mr. Hutcheson was alone to represent U.S.A. at this meeting and had to be vigi lant. Mr. Hutcheson was successful: . a) In having all ocher fibres excluded but chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite, for use in asbestos-cement products; b) In having the word "dust" .replaced by the word "fines"; -- c) In heading off an attempt to set a maximum limit of fifty percent (50#) fines by Bauer-McNett; d) I n"objecting ~tha t `the measurement of ~mecha hi ca 1~a fc rVng h~ be~'p formed by a msthed in the Manual applicable only in the Textile dustry. e\ f t /6 Fft ^ The U.S.A. delegation had to register a negative vote For the Pirst time concerning the compulsory printing of the word "chrysotile" on fibre bags. .. The next meeting will be held in Santiago, Chili, September 22rd- 28th, 1968. It is moved that Nr. Hutcheson continue to represent Q.A.m.A, and that action be taken to have larger representation from the U.S.A. . ADOPTED. VISIT OF RUSSIAN MISSION ' ' r:-v ...;. A letter was received from Mr. H.m. Woodrooffe of the Department of Energy, mines and Resources, proposing a return visit of a Russian delegation to the-'Canadian Asbestos Industry during the weeks of February the 12th and 19th. (The schedule was later moved back to the weeks of February 19th and 26th). The group would include 6 engineers and 1 interpreter. * i. There was no objection on the pert of member-companies except as to the wish expressed by the Russian delegation to visit Advocate Wines and Cassiar; it was felt that at this time or the year weather conditions could disrupt the program of the visit, fflr. Woodrooffe and the General manager to prepare an itinerary accordingly. Visit of the minister of Natural Resources - The itinerary of a visit j-i--'t of Ken. Paul Allard and party scheduled for January 23rd and 24th was reviewed briefly. Although the program is very tight it was hoped that the timetable could be adhered to. DATE AND LOCATION OF FUTURE MEETINGS " .It was proposed to hold the next Summer (or Fall) Meeting at the - __Seigniory. Club from September 19th.to-22nd 1968, and the-1969 Winter meeting in Htrfr-jd*: Arril 9th to 12th, 1969, * ADOPTED ^c . + 4' h * % It was agreed to hold the next regular meetings on Day 27, July 29, November 25, in Quebec City. It was also moved and adopted that the salary of the General' Manager be increased SlOQ.QQ per month. -./. . At this point, the regular meeting was adjourned and was immediately followed by ths Annual meeting of the Association* ADDENDA ' The following committees reports (4) would have been submitted, had not the Chairmen o, the respective committees been accidentally pre- . vented from doing so. ' 4 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ` 2 *' .. 1 .aA3 a) Submission for approval by the Directors of a schedule of Tates ' for Q.A.M.A. drawings associated with testing procedures for chrysotile fibre under tests Al, 33, Dl, D7, El, and F2, in the manual. . b) The text of the oil penetration testing procedure to be sub mitted for the directors1 approval at next meeting. c) Work of sub-committees progressing normally. !&L ?snz.'i * UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION ANO GRADING COMMITTEE The Chairman Intended to report as followsi- a) Ottawa method of measuring length - the Sherbrooke Lab* Director ' *" has visited Ottawa end gone over procedure* Girls for counting could . . be hired at S4S.00 per week and this has been cleared with the Uni- versity Technician^ Union. . . *../8 \ b) An increase for the Fibre Inspector from $719.00 per month to 3754.00 per month, effective Jan. 1, 1968, is requested. This coincides with 196S Budget and with salary increases by Asbestos Corporation Limited. To be submitted for Directors1 approval at next meeting. . c) The Senior Sherbrooke Lab. Technician is leaving .January 24. The Director is looking for another junior technician. d) Random O.S. production sampling will be carried out in January and February.. TRAFFIC Meetings with the three(3) major conferences, namely the CanadaU.K. Conference, the Canadian Continental Conference and CanadsAustralia-fcew Zealand' Conference were scheduled for the week of January 24. A meeting of the Traffic Committee to be held prior to discussions with representatives of the shipping Conferences. PUBLIC RELATIONS A meeting of the Committee was held on December the 12th to con sider two proposals: a) Participation in a publicity program sponsored by the Provin cial Chamber of Commerce. .. . b) A review of the budget estimates with respect to the "Asbestos Producer" , in an attempt to achieve certain savings, either by .changing the format, producing it all in French and possibly re ducing the number of issues. A report by the P.R. Counsel was 9 "'^tabled-"at thence ting. This report indicated that savings in the amount of 15,003.CD were possible. ................. .../9 I >. /9 Accordingly, it was to be the recommendation of the Comaittee that a contribution of SA,000.00 be made by the Association towards the Provincial Chamber of Commerce Publicity Program, provided this amount could be absorbed by the P.R. budget, as approved at the meeting of November 13th. In the absence of the Chairman, such a proposal was made by the General Manager and adopted by the Oirectors at the meeting. furthermore, at luncheon meeting on January 12th with represen tatives of the G.M.M.A. and Chamber of Commerce, certain details, such as consultation as to topics, speakers and.time of broadcasts were ironed out. '. 1969 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE QUEBEC ASBESTOS MIMING ASSOCIATION In bringing the meeting to order, the President called on the Chairman of the dominating Committee. Election of Officers for 1966 - The report of the Nominating Committee proposed the following slate of Officers and Committee Chairmen for 1966: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Mr. W.Uf. Ougntred Mr. K.V, tindell Mr. R.S, Coleman Mr.-J.A. Plain-----Mr. R.J. Merrill President Vice-President Oirector Director-----------Director I /10 LC '. /io Mr. M.J. Messel Mr. P.A. Meyer Mr. F.P. Smith Mr. Ivan Sabourin Mr. George Robinson Mr. Paul-A. Filteau Director Oirector .Oirector s General Counsel Treasurer General Manager & Secretary COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Mr. R. Dodds-Hebron Mr. H.UJ. Foster ; Mr. I.C. Campbell Mr. I.C. Campbell Mr. J.O. by Mr. M.J. Mess.el Mr. K.V. Lindell , Mr. j.R.fl1. Hutcheson Technical Committee Uniform Classification and Grading -Committee Public Relations Committee Traffic Committee Industrial Relations Committee Legislation and Taxation Committee Occupational and Environmental Health Committee Dust Abatement Committee ADOPTED. It was also proposed that the present members of the Executive Committee of the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health remain in office for an other year. ADOPTED. It was moved that the same firm of Riddell, Steed, Graham and Hutchison bt appointed as auditors for I960. AOOPTED. , t 'V'rr-vV !* < i i f t* i i | ' . CUESEC ASSESTOS WlHlNC ASSOCIATION ------ : : ** SPECIAL WINTER MEETING'- GRAND BAHAMA HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB MARCH 27-30, 1968 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORT Since the last reoort on the activities of this committee was made to the Directors, two meetings have been held. 1. The first point for your attention is the Penetration Index Test which has been^three years in development. A measure of the amenability of a sample of asbestos fibre to absorb oil is mea sured by this procedure by the ease of a ball to descend through . a mixture of oil and fibre. As Chairman I recommend the adoption of this test. 2. A request by the Directors was received for a- scale of rates for . drawings of apparatus, developed by O.A.M.A. member companies. - ' Although the scale is modest, it is understood this covers the expenses of our Quebec Office. No recommendation can be offered on this scale as divergent views were expressed by the committee. ' - See Appendix attached. 3. When the sampling procedure was tried by all parties(vendor ard . buyer) it was found inconvenient. A large pile of bags in sto- \ / rage could not be sampled without moving all the bags at an expense. To cover this condition a less rigorous method has been added to the procedure. There is however emphasis that 1 for referee purposes, the original procedure be used. . This Committee wishes to suggest the additional method 9tay with the Q.A.W.A. and not go to A.5.T.M. or other associations. - The Technical Committee is enjoying the co-operation of .all " - ; &.A.S.A. member companies and hence is able to continue the full program in progress on the part of the Sub*Committe% which are* ' ' ten (10) at this time. . . R. Dodds-Hebron, Chairman. "r f r APPENDIX * SUGGESTED RATE SCHEDULE Q.A.ffl.A. DRAWINGS ASSOCIATED WITH . n ^TESTING PROCEDURES FOR CHRYSOTILE riSRE" TEST: A-l Dwo. No. Cost Charge Ind. Duos Sampling & Preparation A-l-1 A-l-2 A-l-3 A-l-4 $ .60 .60 .40 .60 SI.GO 1.00 1.00 1.00 S2.20 S4.00 Charge for Set S3.50 TEST: 3-3 Air Classification TEST: D-l Wet Volume B- 3-1 8-3-2 8-3-3 D-l-1 D-l-2 D-l-3 D-l-4 D-l-5 D-l-6 D-l-7 0-1-8 D-l-9 D-l-10 $ .40 .15 .15 S .70 SI.00 .50 .50 S2.00 \ S .60 .15 ' .15 .15 .15 . .15 ' .40 .40 .'40 . SI.00 .50 .50 . .50 .50 .50 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 SI.50 TEST* D-7 frasneaa D-7-1 12. 95 S .15 S7.S0 S .50 S7.00 . $.50 .../2 c .' V- *1 >*\i ! %Y. !r>*.y_v-;\? A Suggested Rate Schedule QAfflA Drawings For Testing Procedures for Chrysotlle Fibre TEST : E-l Crudy Content Otuo. No. E-l-1 E-l-2 E-l-3 E-l-4 E-l-5 E-l-6 TEST: F-2 Fibre Strength Unit Test . F-2-1 F-2-2 : F-2-3 F-2-4 F-2-5 F-2-6 F- 2-7 F-2-8 F- 2-9 ' F-2-10 F-2-11 F-2-12 F-2-13 F-2-14 F-2-15 Cost S .40 .40 .15 .15 .15 .15 SI.40 '$ .50 : . . .50 . .50 .25 .25 .25 .25 .25 .50 50 .50 - .25 1C .15 .15 S4.95 Charge Ind. Duuos^ SI.00 1.00 .50 ..50 .50 ' .50 S4.00 Charge For Set S3.50 SI.00 ~i!co 1.00 .50 .50 . .50 .50 .50 1.00 1.00 1.00 .50 .50 .SC .50 S10.50 Slu.QG rV cc J i i i 'r.. ; IS QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WINTER MEETINC - CRAND BAHAMA HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB MARCH 27-30.196B . REPORT OF THE UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION & CRAPING COMMITTEE 1* Sherbrooke Laboratory ' 1.0 The senior lab. technician (R. Nadeau) left for other employment on January 24th. This left the lab. with ' oniy'Tnree technicians. temporary employee is being hired until a school graduate, of suitable qualifications, can be found. 1.1- The Committee, at a meeting on March 7th, authorized the purchase of a T.4 N. Rapid Surface Area Tester. 1.2 . . The purchase of equipment to carry out measuring of fibre lehgth and diameters, using the method developed by the Department of Mines, will be completed by April 1st. Cost of equipment will be 51,740. Mr. Winer has sent details of procedure and we will soon have his initial proposed test program. Two girls will be required to carry cut the counting and measuring. 1.3 At this Committee's request the lab.-has investigated and reported on an evaluation of the F.S.U. of anthoohyllite. The results confirmed that anthophyllite did not give unrealistically high values but Just the contrary. Members have a copy of the report. 2. Fibre Inspector 2.1 Random Q.S. samples were collected on 13 visita to various companies* plants in January. Results will be reported by Sherbrooke in March. 2.2 Some misunderstandings in regards to O.S. Sampling were settled at a Committee meeting on March 7. --!--These were* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ) l H i i i t i \ -| 1 'f ** , 1l ( I -- '-V- l Y ''--v i 2. (a) Experimental grades are to be sampled with the understanding that only a Q.S. test is to be performed. (b) Only J.Ifl. 4T-30 is to be hand pressed three times before conditioning, as normal, in the Asbestos fibre Conditioner. 3. The need for reporting individual grades and tonnages of 7 Group fibres, on the "monthly Shipping Report" made by all companies each month, was again discussed ' on march 7th.- As, apparently, the request was approved by fl.A.Sf.A. Directors (in 1959), the past minutes are being investigated. - 4. The reporting end testing of fibres rontaining additives was again discussed at a Committee meeting but a decision was not forthcoming. Discussion will continue. U.H. foster, Chairman. I i* ; I -1 4 v-- ; s4?;- * - \ ] n-jy' QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WINTER MEETING - GRAND BAHAMA HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB MARCH 27-30. 1968 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT A meeting of the Committee was held on March 15. The report on Bausch and tomb Dust Counter comparison tests was * reviewed. the November correlation tests were excellent, however the January tests show very poor results. The machine .has been returned for a check-up to the manufacturer. It may be that cold and humidity affect the results. However, the engineer is very hopeful that the instrument will greatly assist in dust evaluations. Copy of report has been sent to all companies The noise surveys are continuing and the engineer is encouraged by the corrective steps. He suggests that we take further action on high frequency noises. I propose an increase in salary for our' engineer. Present salary $800/mo. Sept. 1966. Suggest $850/mo. as of May 1, * 1968. This is included in the budget. Hell and Henshaw have proposed a safety engineer - a Mr. Murray. However the cost if $16,400. versus a budget of $12,468.1 There is some doubt that he will fill the qualifications. I suggest we look further. Workmen's Compensation rates were distributed by C. Robinson on March 14/66. You will be pleased to note that our mutual has dropped from 80/ to 40/ and changed from a deficit to a surplus of $262,000. P. filtaau and Chairman will visit Workmen's Compensation for further information. We are in a much better position, and possibly the mutual should be reduced next year. t i up; .. 2. A copy of the progress report given by Or. Letendre at the Joint meeting of the QWMA and QAPiA on the subject of a "Provincial Minind Fund" has been forwarded to all members. It is encouraging. He considers the federal regulations cover all angles except severance pay. Re presentatives attended three meetings with the Q.m.m.A. on this subject. flr. Filteau reported on the suggestion of Q.M.W.A. as to the possibility of an employer's group in Class 5 for W.C.C. submissions. There is some merit in this suggestion Details have been forwarded to members. Labor negotiations at locations concerned are progressing somewhat slowly. J.O. Eby Chairman r n ! f* c ~ Li / -1*2 3v '-fs.t; V^ > -r.. -;%*y j,*; ...... ., . .:; :.! ci 'r y r r ; * r | i j { QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION < . SPECIAL WINTER MEETING - CRAMP BAHAMA HOTEL & COUNTRY CLU8 MARCH 27-30,1968 TRAFFIC COMMITTEE REPORT ' *%/ : :V--- '*&/ * 1. OCCAM RATES The Traffic Committee has been very active in the pest few months endeavouring to settle rates for the ocean carriage of asbestos in the major trading areas for the coming season and several meetings have taken place. Our efforts have been complicated by the stevedoring situation which exists at St. Lawrence River Ports where there is currently no labour contract and the prospects for a reasonable solution to this problem being found before the opening of navigation seem doubtful. Faced with unpredictable labour costs the lines serving Canada are suspending service to the St. Lawrence until the situation is clarified and at the same time demanding increases in rates for the coming year which will com pensate them for the anticipated increase in loading and unloading charges when a contract has been concluded. As of the time of writing, increases had been negotiated with the following conferences for the period April 1, 1968March 31, 1969: (1) Canada UK Conference * 11.25 plus emergency surcharge if warranted; (2) Canada - Baltic Conference - as for U.K.; (3) Canada - Australia-New Zealand Conference - 11.75 plua emergency surcharge if warranted. V **./2 II y v. ; a . V t J 1 ! j 2. Negotiations with the Canada Continental Conference have been protracted and difficult and it seems doubtful whether any settlement can be reached with them for less than S2.00 oer ton accompanied by some .deterioration in service, particularly to France. 2. INLAND RATES (1) . (2) . ' (3) The agreed charge rate to St. Lawrence River Ports was due to expire on march 31st, but by taking a firirr'stand we were successful in renewing the agree ment for a period of one more year without any in crease in the rate. . In anticipation of the shut down of St. Lawrence River Ports and the possibility of having to ship out of Cast Atlantic ports, a reduction in the rail rate of $2.10 per ton to Halifax and St. John has been negotiated with both the CNR ano CPR on a temporary emergency basis. The question of the establishment of 120,000 lb. rates to Official Territory is being carried on our agenda, until a comparable proposal emanating from Canadian west coast origins has been approved at which time it is felt our own proposal will have more prospect of success. l.C. Campbell, .Chairman. - 9 1 j  QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WINTER MEETING - GRAND SAHARA HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB MARCH 27-30,1968 LEGISLATION AND TAXATION COMMITTEE REPORT SUBMISSION re TAX ON DIESEL FUEL OIL A meeting of the Joint wRMA-QAMA Tax Committee ums called for March 6, 19Q0-, to review a proposed submission to the Quebec Government on Gasoline Tax Application on Diesel Fuel Oil con sumed in off-highway mining vehicles and equipment. The brief tries to demonstrate that the Quebec Mining Industry is cer tainly one of the most heavily affected with the present fuel tax situation, where the full 22ji rate apolies to Diesel Oil consumed by trucks, loaders, graders, shovels used in mining operations. It applies also to other vehicles used exclusively on-private roads. For your information the amount paid in 1966 by the Quebec Asbestos Mining Companies as tax on Diesel Oil consumed in the mines was more than $1,250,000. and for the whole Quebec Mining Industry the figure was 52,345,000. In the submission, it is pointed out that the Guebsc Mining Industry contributes more than its fair share to the municipal, school and provincial revenues. In addition, the industry is required to supoort community and public services which are nor mally provided by the public sector elsewhere, such as roads, schools, hospitals, recreation centers, etc. Figures on tax date for the Quebec Mining Industry as a whole will be given in an Ap pendix attached to the submission. NON-REIMBURSEMENT OF SALES TAX ON DIESEL OIL USED IN PREPARATION QF EXPLOSIVES. "- . Representations were made to the Provincial Department of Revenue in this connection, pointing to the fact that in recent months no payments had been made against claims by mining companies to this __affect,.. Such exemption had heretofore-been granted on fuel'used ae en ingredient, as per Chapter 74 of the RSQ 1964. The adminis trator is to advise on decision taken by the Department at an early date. /** >;s' * v >rr\* V/"; .v.iii V. . VT--T*. i^. '-*>-*- *. w ,V* .**: r-s -.L M 9 FEDERAL BILL C-2C8 N The 356 surcharge on corporation profits as part of the federal Government's new tax measures was met with some dissatisfaction. Coming at a time when company earnings are being subjected to increasing pressures, the tax increase is unfortunate. The sur charge comes into force on April 1. Starting in June, however, corporations will receive one month's refund of the S% cash flow tax introduced in the Spring budget of 1966 and thereafter every other month. Personal income tax surcharge will drop to Z% on April 1. The extra 2% collected in January, February and march will be credited as overpayments and refunded when taxpayers complete tf^ir returns next year. ^ - PRICE AND MACE FREEZE In a recent statement before the House of Commons in Ottawa, tho minister of Finance, Honorable ffl. Sharo, indicated that the Govern ment might be forced, as a means to combat inflation, to impose a "ceiling" or*, prices and salaries. It is not intended however, in the words of the minister, to freeze prices and wages by coer cive measures but rather through the application of rules, measures and sufficient pressure to incite moderation. Requests could fca submitted to an "arbitration board" whose decisions, however, t-ould not necessarily be binding. It will up to the next Prime minister - the new Leader of the liberal party to be elected at the coming April convention - to determine the advisability and probable success of such a formula in a concerted effort to find a solution to the inflationary trends in the present economic context. miehael J. Bessel, Chairman. .- cc PUBLIC RELATIONS REPORT RAPPORT SUR LES RELATIONS PUBLIQUES EDITAS m CONFIDENTIAL/CONFIOENTIEL ` TO: Quebec Asbestos Mining Association March 15th, 1968 *3 Public Relations climate . \ SV.-.V.. a---^. - : b VV - 5 .i ss;tSv5t?*i;'i Economic, political and sociological conditions in Quebec Province are creating new and unpredictable public relations situations almost every day. The asbestos mining industry is inevitably affected by this constant change and will find it increasingly necessary to adapt its public rela tions policies to the challenges which will occur. 1. In Quebec, in spite of what one reads in the English-language press, the Separatist movement is gaining ground. The adherence of Rene Levesque to an indepen dence policy has tended to make the movement "respectable" and other representatives of the "political intelligentsia" may be expected to follow. Included will be some of the "technocrats" who formed the civil service advisers to Premier Lesage and who have remained - so far - in a similar capacity with the Union Rationale. At long last, opponents of separa tism are becoming active in Quebec and will be seeking heavy support from industry. Por obvious reasons, the leaders of these new movements will, be French-speaking but their prime supporters are English- Canadians and U.S-owned industries. / / a. ,'- wj ^.' . >- r'rf'-. -- --Lgj.q c 2- - Two such organizations are now emerging under reasonably strong auspices. The first is the organization of Vigilantes which claims to have some 40,000 members and the second is a committee headed by Mayor Seguin of Points Claire who has the support of industries located in Pointe Claire industrial park. Concentrated drives for funds - and what is in many ways more impor tant for all-out support, including membership of company executives on boards, are soon to be launched and the asbestos mining companies will not be overlooked. The industry1s attitude, both private and public, towards these groups which are bound to be highly controversial organizations should be determined before a call is made upon individual companies for com - mitment. ' This is a suitable subject for ,,consideration by the public rela' tions committee of the Q.A.M.A. -with, it is suggested, a compre hensive report to individual man agements . 2. The second major problem developing is an economic one with inevitable political overtones. The immediate economic outlook in Quebec is not a happy one. What ever the cause, there is a definite slowdown and this is creating .large pockets of unemployment and will inevitably lead to extensive labor unrest. / c ..:3Wc? - -'.iasltea y - ** I ><; . ? it- - * Xu-,--":-'-' iV . m . 1 * iW-.z. 9' -3- For a time, at. least, every lay-off, however small, will be regarded by workers as another threat to wage earners1 security. Unions will be especially alert to possible threats of increased automation and wil] insist, if necessary, upon additional "make-work" measures. There is little doubt, too, that the recent power-plays of rival unions in the Thetford Mines area have con tributed to a feeling of unrest, of "change is in the air" on the part of many rank-and-file members and. their families. While the influence of the federal government in this area may be slight - particularly if Quebec widens even further its sovereignty program - the industry must be aware that should Pierre Elliot Trudeau be named liberal leader, and conse quently Prime Minister, Jean Marchand , his principal backer, will occupy an extremely strong position in the federal cabinet and the industry will have difficulty in securing a friendly hearing in Ottawa. In such a situation, Daniel Johnson will also seek to improve his posi tion with Quebec labor - threatened as that position will be by having Trudeau and Marchand in Ottawa - and will not hesitate, -when necessary, to make the mining industry or any other industry pay the cost of his efforts. . It is unfortunate therefore that just at this time, when efforts may be made to direct labor acti vities against the industry, a.play based on the asbestos strike has been published and circulated. / ^4` The tools available % Even though it in available in English only and has been the subject of very mixed reviews in the English-language press, Charbonneau and the Chief' is nevertheless suited for amateur stage or professional TV pro duction. It is possible that it could be adapted into French for TV drama purposes. Should it be the subject of a major presentation on the French- language TV network, the quantity of factual inaccuracies and dis tortions that it contains, its ' gross oversiraplication of the issues involved and the con troversy surrounding its author, who recently resigned his orders, could make the play a powerful anti-industry instrument, even though its prime targets- are the political and Catholic Church establishments* It is also significant that after a lapse of six or eight years, increasing references to the asbestos strike are again appear ing on television and in the press. While the strike is a legitimate subject for historical treatment, it is also recent enough to be used by those who wish to put it to inflammatory purposes. This subject - the economic situation - too, is one about which the public relations com mittee should be giver, company and industry policies. To implement most effectively the policies determined by the Q.A.M.A. executive, the public relations committee has available - . / _ w. `fc * * jir-* cX A* i -5- 1. The Asbestos Producer which is again being improved in both appearance and content to meet today's "propa ganda" requirements. It has been the policy of the association's public relations committee and its professional counsel to maintain The Producer as an information medium which would be welcomed and respected by asbestos workers. To accomplish this, the publication has been redesigned and its editor ial policies have been examined and altered on several occasions since it was first published in 1954. Comparing an issue of today with one published fourteen years ago, one would hardly realize that it was the same publication. . Most of the changes have been gradual ones. This year, we are incorporating some improvements which will be more apparent. First; the paper was studied and assessed by one of the foremost newspaper designers in the country - Professor Arthur Gladu, of the Quebec Government Fine Art Schools in Montreal, who designed the daily newspaper le Nouveau Journal when it first appeared in Montreal a few years age. He found the inside pages lively, alert, well designed and eyeappealing and suggested no changes. However, he was less content with the front cover which he felt lacked movement ana reader interest. He was consequently engaged to redesign the cover; his new design will appear for the first time on the April issue. . / .............................. c " *-'^-aEra "* . A second major change in the April issue concerns a new and, we think, more logical, method of news gather ing and presentation. Since by far the greater number of readers is French-speaking, copy for The Producer is now gathered by a com petent and thoroughly experienced French-language reporter and trans lated into English for the minority group. While this may not seem to be a major change, it is likely to be significant. More than just a matter of language is concerned. French reporters and editors have a style and a manner of presenta tion quite unlike that used in the English-language press. While, up to now, we have been gathering and printing information in the English manner and then adapting this for French readers, the method will now be reversed. 2. The Information Service established . for the industry and employed, fre quently and with very good results during the fifties and less fre quently since then is now being reactivated. Information from the industry is well received by all the media as has been often demonstrated. This is true largely because we have resisted the.temptation to dis tribute infofcmation of no signifi cance or with no news value. Under today's conditions, however, news of a Quebec resource industry is of continuing interest. If tha right kind of news is not supplied through the industry's own infor mation facilities, the wrong kind of news will inevitably flow from other sources. - -' r\ -7 3. Industry literature is now available with copies of the new booklet "This is Asbestos" being distributed on request to schools and universities, libraries and trade associations and to media, government represen tatives and civil servants throughout the province. The reaction has been uniformly good with the booklet being accepted as a thoroughly modern por trayal of a thoroughly modem industry. We also continue to receive requests for copies of the leaflet "Facts ' about Asbestos" and for "Asbestos around the World". The association might consider if it ' would not be a useful gesture to dis tribute among employees copies of .. . the booklet - accompanied by a letter - possibly on the Asbestos Information Bureau letterhead - containing the kind of message which would be most ' valuable at this time. 4. Press visits at one time were a .. regular part of the public relations program. They were dropped only because it was felt that they were no longei* serving any .useful pur pose because no fresh information was available. Now, however, there has been a considerable lapse of time since the last press visit and it is possible that a substantial interest could be aroused in the asbestos mining industry as it is today. Finally, there is the medical research program and the possibilities that exist there for important public relations values for the industry. Here again, / \ cc . -8- preparedness is perhaps the immediate concern. No such important program can be carried on indefinitely with out public knowledge about it develop ing somewhere. When news about this research project is available, it is important that it emanate from the industry, rather than from those sources which might be antagonistic to the industry or merely unconcerned about the industry's relationship to the medical program. Once the initiative is lost in such a situation it is seldom regained. cc ...................................... ... n QUEBEC ASBESTOS RIK'INC ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WINTER MEETINC - CRAND BAHAMA HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB MARCH 27-30,1968 DUST ABATEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT A complete report on the status of the several areas of investigation on dryer stack dust control was tabled on January 15th, Progress since that report has been modest but encouraging. 1. The stainless steel rotor has Just recently been installed in the Roto-Cione Scrubber ynoer test , at-ClJ-M. This type of rotor will, we believe, eliminate, or at least reduce to a tolerate level, the corrosion problems encountered with the conventional mild steel rotor. A test program is now well under way. Results may be expected within a month at which time they will be submitted for committee examination. 2. The cloth collector is being installed at C.J-M. with completion scheduled for Ray 1st. A test program will be immediately embarked upon and the results made available for committee study. 3. The new drying unit being installed at C.J-M. will be equipped with either the Roto-Clcns or the Wheelabrator dust collecting unit, deoending on results of the current tests. The engineering facts obtained from this installation will be made availaole to the committee. 4. The Krebs cyclone for possible use in de-weterir.g the Roto-Clone slimes has been investigated. Unfortunately, the manufacturers consider the particle si2e of materials in the slimes to be too. fine for thia application. They can not recommend their cyclone as a solution to this recovery problem. \i. \ / c f n 2 The handling of slimes will now be studied on,the basis of using thickners or filters, or a combination. 5. Progress has been made at Asbestos Corporation Limited with their work on the electrostatic precipitation . method. A definite proposal for a 120,000 cfm plant is under serious study. Efficiencies of separation of 97% are expected by the manufacturer with a possibility of a guarantee of 95% being given. 6. Nothing further to report on the subject of tailings dust control at this time. J.R.fl. Hutcheson Chairman. i c i'y-c'-W-V- .\. V-/ rsvA^v* '7^Sv > t :\ -QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION .' m SPECIAL WINTER mgETTIMG - GRAND BAHAMA HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB MARCH 27-30,I96B A DDE N PUP) FROM THE CENERAL MANACER t-X:. ... i i V... i !<j .J ?. i %r iFI \ a i t \ i1 1 I ! * *_Pri VISIT OF THE ASBESTOS INDUSTRY BY HONORABLE P. ALLARD In spite of very tight scheduling, the tour of the Asbestos Industry conducted for the new Provincial Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. P. Allard, on January 23 and 24 last.seems to have been quite successful. In his letter of thanks, Hon. Allard stated that the visit had been of the utmost interest to him. In his comments during the return trio to Quebec, he acknowledged in no uncertain terms the cordial courtesy exten ded by all during his brief trio. VISITOr RUSSIAN DELEGATION This was indeed a detailed inspection of the asbestos operations in Quebec and'also in British Columbia. A great deal of appre ciation was exoressed by the members of the delegation for the unrestricted and very special attention given during thsir visit. Thanks to the assistance and cooperation of member company of ficials, the briefings and meetings held at various points of the program resulted in frank discussions and exchanges of infor mation no doubt mutually beneficial and well worthwhile. PROVINCIAL ACCIDENT PREVENTION COMMISSION The Provincial Labour Deoartment and the Workmen's Compensation Commission, as a result of renewed representations from the Steelworkers Union, are again building pressure on industry in favor of a provincial accident prevention commission. A meeting of industrial accident orevention associations was called recently by the Minister of Labour for the object of discussing the future of said associations and the role of an eventual "Accident Preven tion Commission", a new Board which the Workmen's Compensation proposes and wishes the Government to establish. - The Minister declared that he intend'd to bring down o Bill in the House during the next session (present one) which would call for the establishing of an Accident Prevention Commission formed of 12 members, 4 representing * the employees, 4 representing the unions and 4 Independent experts in safety or industrial hygiene. The prooosed legislation to be submitted for perusal at a later -date. ' ` Numerous comments were aired by association representatives-,"indieating their doubts as to the efficient performance of the proposed body. Such would require the liquidation of present safety aseo- .../2 c // c A. r*rv< 2 ciations, resulting in the gradual abandonment of "education in safety" among the employees, which is at present one of% the main functions of safety associations. The department claims that the regrouping of all insoection ser vices under one head, would eliminate duplication of investiga tions, reports and time consuming discussions with employers. On the other hand, it was pointed out that the present quality of Wine Insoection Services could be diluted as a result of integra tion with other groups of inspectors and their loss of contact with the Department of Natural Resources. . It was hoped that the arguments submitted may have soften the position of the Department of Labour in respect to his avowed wish to establish such a Commission. The latest news is that the Government is going ahead with the proipct. . ASBESTOS IN ASPHALT PAVING ~ ` Following an article published in "Le Soleil", Quebec City, which stated that nothing was to be gained from the use cf asbestos in asphalt paving, representations were made to the Deputy-Minister of Roads and his assistant, since the information originated from . the Roads Department Laboratory. It was admitted that the'infor mation was unfounded, contradictory and based on hypothetical pro Jections. The Deputy-minister agreed to review the matter with the director of the Laboratory (absent on a diplomatic illness?) and to make sure that the use of asoestos in asphalt paving be further experimented and properly tested. PUBLICITY PROGRAM - PROVINCIAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Meetings have been held to preoare and sift very meticulously e list of topics related to the Mining Industry, which could be presented as "spot messages" on Radio and T.V. in the weekly series of the publicity program of the Provincial Chamber of Com merce. Once the format is more or less agreed, the contents will be submitted for your perusal as confidential material. It seems that the impact of present "spots" on the general public is pro ducing a favorable reaction. BROCHURE ON CAREERS IN THE WINING INDUSTRY In cooperation with the Mining Associations and the Association o Vocational Directors, the Department of Natural Resources is span soring the printing of a publication on careers and opportunities I , r* . ! ' . . 7f V-i i'S^Ssi -..'i.' * , Vi . i'/'V- v -'-^ r -rl vtyic,.-:.;-.*- Tar^vT.-" - '.*j in the mining industry. Several meetings have been held so far and the material is almost ready to go to the printers. The brochure will be distributed in all high schools, secondary and technical schools, as well as in engineering faculties of universities of the Province of Quebec. BILINGUALISM A quote from an address given at a recent seminar on "Bilingual Communications in Industry" held in Montreal: "To the french-Canadian, it is important for his own personal future and satisfaction to know English. It provides him with a scooe the unilinguals do not have. The young Englisfrv Canadian should, in his case, realize that he is surrounded by french culture, and will be increasingly so. Aside from the obvious business advantages, a thorough knowledge of french will allow him to live more fully in his own community." Paul A. filteau, General Manager. SSS53 ,SS3S^ -i - >4 r * -A- t f i IIt i \ | 1 i 4 | i if k 1 nfj. a. I ' *i, K.r ; `I * ASBESTOS IN 1967 Although Canada achieved many "firsts" in its Centen nial Year,it did not establish any neui record in the produc tion of asbestos for the Canadian and export markets* Based on preliminary figures for the year, Canadian asbestos production in 1967 amounted to some 1,444,685 tons, as compared-to 1,491,916 tons in 1966, a drop of 47,000 tons. This slight dip in overall asbestos production tonnage in 1967 reflects the general trend . in the international economic situation and the levelling off of industrial development at large in U.3.A. and Western Europe. During 1967, a lower demand for asbestos for use in asbestos-cement products was apparent in the United Kingdom, Cermany and the United States. This situation was brought, about by generally slower business conditions and various economic problems in the first two countries and "tight money" in the U.S. This decline is thought to be of a temporary nature and industry officials forecast that the growth pattern of the past decade should resume its upward trend in I960. I WORLD REVIEW fflother nature has been most generous in providing .asbestos resources* orebodies are found in a great many coun tries and in a wide varisty of forms. Chrysotils, however, ,.,/2 cc fS . - V M f . i :* 1 i /2 is the most abundant variety and constitutes 9Q% of the world's asbestos production. It is the only type mined in Canada. First commercial production in Canada was recorded in 1878 from the Johnson property in Thetford Wines, Province of Quebec, with 50 tons of fibre shipped. Production has been con tinuous from that year and today in Canada ten (10) companies mine asbestos for an annual production of 1,444,885 tons in 1967 worth 5165 million. 89^ of the production comes from Quebec, 6.6 % from British Columbia and Yukon, and 4.4 % from Newfound land. Ontario will join the producing ranks in 1966 with Cana dian Johns-fflanville ooerations in Reeves Township, Ontario; Cassiar's Clinton Creek Wine, Yukon Territory, began production vsCemuel X7S (. '. . ' " Although Canada is generally known as the free world's chief asbestos producer, Russia has been for the last few years the largest global producer. In 1966, the U.S.S.R. production of asbestos was actually 1,564,930 metric tons, and recent exchanges with officials of the Russian asbestos producing industry indica te that 1967 production may reach 1,832,000 metric tons. Some confusion has developed in the reporting of Russian asbestos pro duction. This results from the fact that fiber grades production figures and shorts production figures are listed under separate headings. However, a growing proportion of Russian production is consumed within U.S.S.R. and the Soviet bloc countries, as a re sult of a strong building boom which is expected to last for se veral years. Production of asbestos in the United States was expected to reach some 130,000 (?) tons in 1967, California being the lea ding producer. The main producers in the State of California were 1 333 cc *f^**. -yn I i;i xt>jwani,-*r-.v^.'ayY' -,5<r *'iV `ftflZZ. . .... jn ggsasi /3 Atlas Mineral Corporation, Pacific Asbestos Corporation, Coalin gs Asbestos Company Inc*, and Union Carbide Corporation. Output of chrysotile asbestos in 1967 at the Lowell Mine, near Hyde Park, Vermont, was to vary very little from 1966. Estimates for the other asbestos producing countries in 1967 are 280,000 tons for the Republic of South Africa, 150,000 tons for Rhodesia, 100,000 tons for Italy and 250,000 tons for China, Japan and others In brief, world output of asbestos of all types should reach approximately 4,300 million tons in 1967, an increase of almost 4% over 1966. . CROWING WORLD DEMAND ' Asbestos usage did not decline in ell countries in the world in 1967 as compared to 1966. For example, Japan, India and some of the European countries enjoyed improved economic health or, received greater monetary assistance under "Aid" plans, such that additional Quantities of asbestos were ordered. In fact, asbestos consumption in the Free World markets is forecast to grow according to economists at an average of 5/S per annum (in Japan only, an 8$ increase in demand is predicted for 1968) for the next four years or to an estimated 2,950*000 tons in 1971* If Canada1 share holds at 60^, this would mean that an ex pansion of 300,000 tons in Canadian asbestos production would be rspuirsd in the early 137u:s. Present ore reserves are considered sufficient to meet such an increasing demand on Canadian operations . for the next 30 years and more. . .... m/4 " ji*r\ cja cc ..-j- < .>; a / 1. -: : : ..I ;v \ -V rr^.vi;/; |SSK;w*T2-i _ im OJSrj'.lWW It is significant that a number of the Communist Bloc countries, such os Poland, Rumania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia ... have been ordering greater quantities of Canadian fibre, there by indicating the inability of Russia to fulfill all their re quirements. The considerable expansion of asbestos cement manu facturing facilities in Russia is of sufficient proportions to ab sorb a major portion of Russian asbestos production for some years in the future. However, it is known that the U.S.S.R. continues to sell annually approximately 270,000 tons of asbestos to the Common fflarket countries, the Scandinavian countries, India and ' Japan. . .. . CANADIAN OCVELOpinCHTS Well aware of the prospects for the future, Canada's asbestos producers ars involved in expansion. A number of com panies are improving their mining and milling facilities through the introduction of mere productive equipment in the form of lar ger capecity trucks, automated processing control systems in the mill circuits, and improved beneficiation, all of which are capital investments. As the industry's continuing expansion depends on its ability to meet specific manufacturer needs, it is heavily involved in research aimed at improving the quality of fibres. As previously mentioned, two new producers are presently tuning-up for full scale production in Clir.tcr. Crssk wine of Cassiar Asbestos Corporation has been geared for an initial production rate of 60,000 tons per year, and Reeves Wine-of Cena- . aian Johna-flanville is designed to operate at a rate 'of -125,000 'tons ~./5 /S per year* Meanwhile this same company is engaged in a fiveyear program of expansion of its Jeffrey Nine, Asbestos, Prov* of Quebec, which will ultimately provide for a further 100,000 tons of fibre per yesr by 1970. This additional capacity puts Canada in a very favorable position as a supplier of fibre to the free world. Due to an escalation in costs, development by Asbestos Corporation Limited of its Asbestos Hill project in Northern Que bec has been delayed. Clarification of the income tax struc ture in the light of the Carter Report on Federal Taxation, and financing by the federal and provincial governments of non-produc tive facilities are important factors in determining the future of this, project which was originally scheduled to come into produc tion by 1970 efan initial rate of 100,000 tons per year. Mean while, this company is expected to take full advantage of the potential of its Thetford Mines operations. . The cost squeeze continues to plague asbestos producers in Canada. Very significant increases in taxes, wages, salaries, bags, explosives, maintenance materials over the past five years have outpaced price increases or cost reduction measures. As a result, certain asbestos mining companies have announced z rics in fibre prices averaging 2% on all grades of asbestos, effective April 1. 1968. FOREIGN DEVELOPMENTS With the completion of Mill No.6 in 1966 at Asbiest, 90 milee from Sverdlovsk, tne beginning of full scale operations in i . 1969 at Aktrovek, West of Lake Baikal and at Kiembi Kazaxhastan, the U.S.S.R. is aiming at an objective of 2,200,000 metric tons by 1970 as its annual production af asbestos fibre for domestic needs and exports. .../6 c f V- * \ '3 . r /6 - Another major development is the new mill complex nearing completion at Penge Asbestos Wins, South Africa, operated by Cape Asbestos Company Limited and designed to produce some 100,000 tons of the shorter grades of amosite per year. In Italy, the Balangero Wine near Turin, as a reulst of expanded mining and milling facilities, in 1967, will be in a position to produce more than 100,000 metric tons of asbestos per year. Italy now ranks seventh among the asbestos producing countries in the world. One asbestos property not reported in .1966 but discovered prior to that^year is located in Brazil. It is to be placed in production by the Pont-a-Wousscn group from France. The property is located several hundred miles north of Brasilia and promises to be a ssall but significant producer of asbestos cement grade fibre. . . OUTLOOK Based on existing forecasts, the Free We*ld market for asbestos should remain strong for at least a decade. The effects of the temporary decline in the U.5'^. market and Western Europe in 1967 have been partly offset by.'the high rate of growth experien ced by the so-called developing countries, which have become in creasingly more important as consumers of asbestos, particularly asbestos cement grade fibres. This situation could be further fronnthonoh s predicted for 196c, construction activity cr.d the automotive industry in U.S.A. resume the upward trend which prevailed in the first half of this decade* In .that country, a gain 'of .8/6 is predicted in the construction industry end the output in the- automotive industry is expected to rise to 8.5 million from 7.4 ' _million in 1967.__ c ./ '; v::-V V? /7 1968 looks promising for increased asbestos consumption in the Far East. In the Middle East, as a result of the conti nuing crisis between Egypt end Israel, .nc improvement is expec ted. In Europe a somewhat better market is forecast especially in Germany, U.K., the Scandinavian and "grey curtain" countries. The market in "the emerging" and Latin-American countries should in the long term expand quite substantially. In general, the upward demand for asbestos-cement products in most countries of the world is expected to continue and associated with thisincrease will be the consumption of asbestos fibre. Presently, Canada exports asbestos fibre to more than 80 countries. This vast export market is expected to continue to expand despite"intensified competition from non-mineral materials, new products and new techniques. 1C years ago Canadian mines ship ped $100 million worth of fibre; in 1967 asbestos shipments will have soared to $165 million. With rising standards of living snd large scale economic developments in many countries of the world, Canada's asbestos mining industry faces a challenging future. In meeting successfully such a challenge, the Canadian Asbestos indus try will contribute to maintaining the leading position of Caneda's mineral industry as third largest in the world, ranking immediate ly after that of U.S.A. and U.S.S. R. RESEARCH IN OCCUPATIONAL AND ENI/IRCMMEKTftL HEALTH Elimination of airborne dust and asbestos fibre particles * id a problem that the Canadian asbestos industry has seriously studied Over a number of years and has combatted with a conside rable amount of success. Because there is universal use of asbes tos products, and as there are few aspects of modern life that do . not make use of asbestos to some degree, the Quebec Asbestos Mining Association established an Institute cf Occupational and Environ . mental..Health to conduct-or sponsor research Into~all--facata"of c. . c o -- i. V. *v , v . -4 ^ ! ; <h-. ~ - . 1 'tX" -A -.wj neastomm the production, manufacturing and use of asbestos and asbestos products in relation to health. - Arising from recent press publicity, sometimes ill informed and exaggerated,widespread concern has been expressed, suggesting that the use of certain asbestos products might result in hazards to public health, such as lung cancer. These implications are naturally of great concern to the asbestos industry and it would seem somewhat premature, to say the least, to accept theories of this sort, when not corroborated by unequivocal scientific eviden ce. ; So farcin studies of asbestos exposure and human health, research has not shown evidence of any risk to the general public from the use of finished asbestos products. There is no scienti fic evidence that anyone has ever contracted any disease from ex posure to products containing asbestos. Scientific research to identify and reduce the health risk from asbestos dust exposure is being conducted in many places throughout the world. The asbestos industry both sponsor such research and cooperates in work being done by government agencies and private medical investigators all over the world. In Canada, medical research teams are presently carrying out extensive epidemiological surveys of past and present employee of all asbestos mines in the Province of Quebec. Drecaedinn Rt-.u- .dies have shown that the health situation at the centers of asbes tos production was as good as in other industrial towns of equal population located in various parte of the Province, It ia hoped that the results of the present epidemiological survey will subs tantiate this fact. . ____________ ~ r it /9 . cc ~r /9 o In cooperation and in conjunction with other agencies, the asbestos industry will continue to seek new information about the biological effects of asbestos fiber and to develop ways of assuring maximum possible protection from occupational hazards, for its employees in asbestos mines, mills and plants. /*: vV. "xS'SH-'J A NOTC OF OPTIMISE Despite current underlying difficulties the industry is confident that it has not reached its full potential as yet. By keeping abreast of and contributing to technological developments in many countries, the Canadian asbestos producers firmly believe that they are-'associated with an adaptable industry in a dramati cally changing world, with a growing industry in a developing world economy and with a dynamic industry in the increasingly automated world of today and tomorrow. Paul A, Filtsau, General Manager. Quebec Asbestos Mining Association. January 31, 1968