Document RjELmvzVryZNX4ppBny3rrXbE

i. \ 1 i, r. I B I i l < V*J -V ftiwuTCS or mt scccta*. wsttikc 0" THg OUSSCC ASBESTOS WIMIWC ASSOCIATION HCLD 0 OCTOBER B AMD 9. 1969. AT THg SCIGHtQEY CLUB. MOdTEBCitO. P.D, Present: COMESDAY. 0CTQ3CR 8. 19S9 -- _ Messrs. JC.V. Lindall R.C. Carpenter R.5. Ccleaan R* J* Merrill * R.J. Ssssei M.C. Cughtrsd T.P. Smith H,M. Ball \ c.s. Burnett I.C. Campbell . M.P. Carson P. Cartier (Dr.) D.T. Colton Y. Couture A.R. Dermis R. Oodds-Habron J.O. Eby K.H. Tester R.P. Gagnon R.U. Hendry R.L. Hennebach A.R. Hooker J.R.R. Hutcheson E.B. Jonas J.A. Main John-BcCann (Or.). J.C. McDonald (Dr. L.C. Piuze 0. Poirier % 0. Poutiatlna M* Prus C.W. Wright (Dr.) Cep. Robinson I. Sabourin Paul-A. filteau * The President, Mr. Xarl V.Lindell, occupied the chair. His first cede H to great and welcoas the new attendant*, more specific eally Rassrt. Carpenter, Jones, Hooker, Dra. Cartlar and McCann. The President than gave a brief report of his recant trip to Japan hare ha attended the International Congress on Occupational Health. Among the participants there mere 720 Japanese and 680 foreigners from U.S., Trance, Canada, Germany, Sweden and U.S.S.R.* Or. Pelnar, Scientific Secretary of otir Institute, delivered an exealiant paper at the Conference* from the discueaionathat took place, it would BKK0KKDRE5 ..... 15.... 37136 * rufi-^V **Xt*L.n&^euxnwejsa^muiilsnemiS c r. c c ! -- s*s -s & i i stem that crocidolita and amosits as sell as asbestos "per se" ere carcinogenic. As a whole the Conference was quite successful. Or. Bright was then invited to review th8 work of the Scientific Committee. . Dr. G.tt. Bright t 1. Q.A.R.A. has underwritten a study of the health effects related to asbestos exposure in workers of the asbestos eeasnt industry and other residents of Nav Orleans. This is an important proj ect since it deals with the asbestos cement exposure, whereas most of the exoerienet ao far is with the textile industry and insulation workers. Johna-Ranville and national Cypsum are to be commanded for allowing their population to ba studied. It has been agreed that pest employees mould be traced and the cause of death would ba inveatigated in those mho died. Attesps will be made to assess the peat dust exposure and currant measurements dona in the plants will ba utilised. It had been planned originally to include environmental (public) exposure, but this part mas removed from the application; it will ba discreetly re-evaluated during in-pient investigation work. 2. In the U.5.# in-plant environmental standards are established through a special Committee which recommends threshold limit values. Although this body has no legal support of any kind, the various States usually incorporate its recommendations in tholr legislation. - But the trend it towards the establishing of federal Standards. These are gradually introduced on a regional basis. Thus far, asbaatos has not baen under consideration, but surely mill be .../3 37137 c r` c y f*t * -I "I * 3. very soon. The morchanisa of the Federal Agency corks as follows: An in-plant Sureav of Occupational Safety and Health submits re- cosacndations in a very formal cay to a Coooitiee. For instance, oeong a scale of 10 imperative recommendations submitted recently, asbestos was 7th; however, the first 6 have been by-passed and asbestos has become number 1 on the priority list. Such rsport then goes to a Board whose Members submit their comments in writing. These are forwarded to a Consumer Agency and then to the Secreta ry of Health and Secretary of Labour. Zt should be pointed out that the Committee of experts is made up of competent people. So far, a range of limits up to 12 fibres per c.c.-hes been pro- . . . posed. (One million particles per cu. ft. * 25 particles per c.c.). The eventual compromise should fall somewhere in between. As a preliminary recommendation for in-plant end insulation work stand ards, an educated guess would prooably be six fibres per c. c. The matter, however, which has yet to be cleared up is that of intermittent exposure; In a survey of industrial exposure, the U.5. Occupational Safety and Health Department has come up with a tine- computed average of two to four fibres per c.c. . Or. J.C. WcPonald Eafare reporting on his survey of asbestos mins workers, Dr. cDcnsid first extended his thanks to the Q,A,R.A. for its generous support. He also reviewed some of the background studies end articles, such as tha story which appeared In the New Yorker, which were cause for concern and anxiety. These publications pointed tot ) a 100-fold increase since 1900 in the production and uses of asbestos; b) the appearance in random autopsies of asbestos-like fibres in human lungs; ' c) substantial risk to lung cancsr from axposurs to asbestos; - 3^138 .../, TTTTiTIT-gfOTffT"1*0*TM "T1 fl cc -4. d) identification of oescthelioaa with increasing frequency mere recently. - The foregoing briefly suaearizes the evidence generally accepted before the study on asbestos pine workers was started. berk conducted " 1. Aain study of asbestos nine workers. 2. Survey cf cesothelioa in Canada by Beans of a questionnaire forwarded to all pathologists. This inquiry gave a ratio of three easts in oanufacturing and service against one in oinir.g and Billing. - 3. Studies of oils, waxes and trace eefcals. Study . cf Asbestos Eine vA bo. of wining cowpafiles included in survey Mo. of parsons employed - No. of jobs recorded in esployment records AsecsTOSTS as iwoicarco 8r x-av 44 27,000 203,000 approx. \ Currant aoployees - (tow. 1966) Negative 5560 Positive 163.a 2.6* Total 5723 Left work 1956-65 16S8 107 6.3S 1795 Left work 1946-55 2943 96 * 2.2% -3039 * Left work * 1956*45 1139 36 * 3.2* . 1177 i I i cc 4 :' i* (0 i . - t :i i I i i :r--:i Ie &3 I . tr 'x Li ,i ! =1 **5 l A Year of birth K0R7ALITY TQ?? CffglCYCES 5. 1S91-Z920 Total Traced Dead * cause krtoair. Dead - j cause net know 1391*95 1396*00 1901*05 1906*10 1911-15. 1916*20 1,532 1,971 2,019 1,942 1,913 2,134 1,163 544 1,579 ' 569 1,721 449 1,784 2SS 1,847 21C 2,081 131 48 63 35 18 5 *6 - All 11,511 10,175 2,195 (east) 175 ocatks rffon lukc CAwcrfl osscbucd AKO EXPECTED* Yaar of birth V. Loa 0E Oust ixpeaure Grade Loo JUdiu* 0Z 0z High 0' E All 0E 1891-1900 IS 19 19Q1-191Q 6 11 1911-1920 4 3 13 15 12 12 44 12 9 97 33 7 6 47 49 7 3 34 33 3 1 16 10 All 25 32 29 30 24 19 17 10 95 91 fm Ouobac eortality ratss 37140 .../6 \ cc r! t 6. Rote information is required in the case of ecriality studies as well as further analysis of lung function rates and X-rays. The report is expected to b8 completed by the end of 1S69. At this point. Dr. Bright emphasized that the work undertaken by Dr. RcOonald and his team was colossal. He cautioned the Associa tion not to oublish any statement prematurely, nor to pressure Dr. McDonald into publishing a report before the study is fully completed. Or. RcOonald pointed out that there were other areas which could be - investigated as a follow-up. He indicated that in feeras of priority it mould be useful* .. s) to keep the 12,000 wen under continued observation - probably as many lung cancers mill be observed in the next 5 years as had been observed to-date, sines the general cancer rate is increasing; b) to continue to require pathologists to report eases of weaothaliosa to the I.C.E.H.j e) to follom elosely some of the men over a period of years; d) to study pleural plaQues, ever, if they art non-incepecitatino. A fern questions were then posed to Or. McDonald following which the meeting mas adjourned. c .../Thursday, October 9,1969. I ~ r / 37141* c r < c . /' l* ' i \ PIN'JTCS or TtfC SPECIAL gCCTIKC or THE OUCECC ASBESTOS WINING ASSCCIATIQM HELD OK OCTOSCr 9 AND 9, 1969, AT THE SEIGNIORY CLUB, BCNTEBCLlC. o.C. Thursday. October 9, 1969 The same participants as for the meeting of Wednesday, October the 8th, ith the exceptionof Ora. Cartier, KcCann, KcOonald and Wright, - Ii attended the easting. It *a aovsd and seconded that the sim/tes of the 111th nesting of the Association held on July 31st, 1969, ha adopted after correction to Or. Pelnar's neee on page 11. CARRICO. The President then called on the various Standing Comities Ctelrecn. technical coawmcc Ths last assting of the Csaaittae as held at the University of ,i I Shertorooks on the 9th of Ssptaaber. l 1, filtration of Asbastos-Ce*nt-5ilica-*ixe An additional piece of apparatus produced by the Bailey Coepany is to be Investigated to i datareins if it aay 0# suitable for this orfc* .. \ 2* editorial Sub-Cosalttas - It is planned to roviao the translation of ths suaasry of ths test procedure* ith Br. Filtoau with ths vies to the suitability of ths aording for tho typo of circulation antici* patad for tho translotion* 37142 .../2 c r c 3. fibre Strength Unit - Ths A.S.T.K. have requested all procedures to be written in Standardized P.ctric System terminology. The task of revising the drawings for the fibre Strength Unit to satisfy the standard metric system has been started Ter submission with thr. re* vised procedure. 4. Screen Cloth Standards - At present the closest equivalent screen size to the Tyler Series Size is supplied from the U.S. Series. This information has been relayed to the Uniform Classification and Cradin> Committee as the Quebec Standard Test may be affected by an alternalive being supplied for the 25 eest sieve. i < . | ? 5. Colour Teat - The revised procedure has been accepted with ednor corrections, but its accuracy is not fully dependable when a spinning fibre is the sample, due to the texture of the pellet specimen. it 6..A.S.T.W. 0-30 ^/Three tests are being considered by this group at | the next meeting on the 27th and 28th of October. These are the t'c; Colour Test, the Ro-tap Test and a Koisture Content Procedure. t < WffORff ClASSTflCATIOM AKP CRAPING COaeiTTCT . \ I flatters of intsrest to Directors were reported es follows: 1. fibre Length 4 Diameter - The program is making good progress. All 1963 Exchange Samples mill have been measured for length by tho j end of September. The measuring of diameter should be completed by : late November. ** Restored length data mill be compared with the Strength Unit, Quebec Standard, RcKett, Rapid Surface Area, and Rotap test rasults cf these same fibres. .../3 . 37143 c r\ i > j l t i; ! ' 3. As scon as the length results ore available they still be sent to individual Q.A.R.A. Member Companies for their stub'/. A similar program still be followed for the diameter measurements and for combined length-diameter studies. 2. Oeot. of Mines - Ottawa - The Chairman of the Technical and the Chairmen of the Unifcra Classification and Grading Committees in a letter to Rr. ttoodrcoffe emphasized the follouingpoinis: (a) The need for a review of the asbestos research program. .. (b) The need to accelerate such a program^ (c) Suggested needed research areas and possible aethods shewing most promise. . ... A meeting with the Ottawa group still be arranged for early in November. ; * 3. Ror.thly "Shipping Tests* Report - At present, both tonnage shipped end the Q.S. tests are reported by fibre Croup for 3, 4, S A 6 Croup fibres, end by Sub-Grade far Croup 7, Rr. Kassel has suggested that the report show tonnage and Q.S. tests by Grade for all fibres. There is unanimous agreement that Q.5. tests should be by Grade. Sut Ohm company is still not agreeing to reporting tonnage by grades end ill resrudy the ides. A. Metric System 4.1 Bag Baights - Individual Companies ere to study the implica tions of 45 Kg (99 lba.), 40 Kg (BE.2 lbs.) and 25 Kg (55.1 lbs.) bags} lighter bags probably will be necessary In the near future, but the costa of bags and equipment changes need serious consider ation. 37144 /4 cc 4. 4,2 C.S. Test - The suggested sample weight is 500 grams. The present one pound is 451 grass. The probable changes in test results using the greatsr weight is to be studied by Reader Com panies. A change in test time may be necessary. It seems, at the moment, that the C.S. test would be reported as a percentage on each box. This will call for a revision af Q.S. test minims and maxima. This will be undertaken when agree ment is reached on sample weight and meshes to be used. IWOUSTRTAI RELATIONS CUminZt 8rifly, the Chairman of the Committee reported as.follows: X. Labour agreements * All except National Asbestos have signed con tracts. 4' Lake Mbestos, to Owe. 31-59 Asbestos Corporation, to Dee. 31-71 Caray-Canadian, to Oec. 31-71 <> Sell Asbestos, to dune X - 70 i C.J.h., to Jan. 31 - 72 \ Rational, to Oec. 31-68 Flintkote, to Dec. 31-71 \ taka Asbestos states that negotiations should start In November at i their location. 2. Horkaen** Compensation - A review of compensation costs and acci dent frequency for the past 5 years shows that our freouency has in creased steadily over the years but not the stverity. This is par tially due to the accepting of previously unallowed claims for back, hearing, heart condition, etc. Zt is also believed thet cost of Industrial disease claims could become larger than accidant claims. The mutuel assessment of 60/ issued in Oetobcr is the highest to date. c r~ < c 5. I c; 3. Safety - W. Plontgooery is no-- giving us full tins and this is very satisfactory arrangement. A. Arbitration - At the last aeetino of the Coesittee, recent cases sere revlaed as well as several industry grievances and eethcds of handling same. (1) C.J.E. lost an arbitration case on 1 day layoff for sleeping. Proof ms not satisfactorily established. Unless a nan da- liberstely laaves his place of *ctk for the express reason to sleep, he is not asleep. (2) If a nan cooes back to eork before start of-shift and con- . tinues on, the court has judged this to be overtioe - net call tiae. Asbestos Corporation received s favorable ver dict. - t (1) Severity of penalty is a prerogative of manegeeent. taka received a._fvertble verdict in respect to s penalty isposed. 5. Air Pollution - Ouring duscussion by the Committee ef Ouebac's intent in this regard, it vas suggested that then the official legis lation is formally tabled before the Rational Assembly, both the environmental Centre! Committee and th Industrial Relations Cooait- tee gat together to study the Sill* * 6 Legislation - 8111 *9 on Ranpoeer training has become la. A eating is scheduled arlth Quebec Labour Department Officials to dis cuss its operation end implications. TRAfflC CtSJWtTTK \~o The Chairman reported that meetings mill shortly be held *ith viem to negotiating rate* for the ocean carriages of. asbestos for the year 1970. i' -4 T - `i____LW.'JJts; 37146 cc ri t"* i-- i ! :j j `| --j 'i i ^| iI ! ' ,| 4j 6. Hail rates on fibre to the Hie Crande crossing points to Sexicc fren Quebec origin have been decreased by epproxiaatcly 14% by reason of 60-ton rates being established to sake thes coacetitive eith similar rates established froe west coast origins. Oesurrage rates on cars containing export traffic have been increa sed by 510.00 a day eith no'change in free tisa, effective Septem ber 1st, 1969. At the saae t'lee done*tic demurrage rates have been increased to S1Q.00 per day for the first four days and S2O.C0 for eaeh day thereafter. *- The Kiddle Atlantic Trucking Conference (Cistern United States) has raised its rates 3% across the board, effective August 2Sthr 1969, . to put thsa in the saae position ea the U.S. Railroads, vhich erc recently granted an equivalent increase by the ICC. UCISLAT10* AMO TAXATIOH COBKITTCE * 1. Tax Reform - finance Kinister C.J. Benson, has indicated that the tthita Paper on governaent tax refers rill be ready to be aade public about the and of October. A good portion of the- White Paper has been already approved in draft fora. . 2. Joint Beating of the Q.A.N.A. and Q.K.K.A. Tax Committees - At the last Joint seating of tha Tax Coasittaee of tha tso Associations, tha folloring subjects sere discussed; a) Diesel Oil Tax - In visa of the tax refor* announced by the no* Kinister of finance for Quebec, Mr. *. Beaulieu, the joint coating considered that it sou Id be appropriete to present to the . ne Kinister sn up-dated aubaiasionon Diesel Oil Tex applicable to off*hlghay vehicles Jointly eith ths Pulp and Paper Associatlon and other groups using off-high*ay equipsent. cc 7. b) Air and Water Pollution - In view of the recently announced policy of the federal Government in this respect and the pres sures at the Provincial and Municipal levels, it was agreed tc request tax incentives fcr the construction of pollution control facilities* To this end, a resolution was presented at the Alines Ministers Conference in Toronto on Septeaber 1A-17, 1969. See i&ew 3 below* c) Mining Duties Audit * As regards the application of the new Mining Duties Aet (1966), the general consensus at the joint west ing was that classification of treataent facilities was broad and quite saflsfaetory, but that developwent expenses are not as broad t as per section 83A of the Xncowe Tax Act* r 3, Provincial Mines Ministers Conference in Toronto - The overall iwpression gained is that the discussions in the six different coaittses brought abut some very constructive racoonendations. Coa- (tii aittss ho* 3 - Royalties, Taxation and Tariffs, for one was very setive. Soot of its sore iwportsnt reeoawendations can be suena- > riaed as follows; i i a) federal Tex Before - Attention was again directed in a recca- i aendetion to the Mines Ministers concerning the Carter Report adverse affects on the progress of the wining and petroleua indus tries, if reeoawendations were adopted. b) Air and Water Pollution Control facilities - It was recoswended that pollution eontrol facilities ba fully exenpt from federal and * Provincial sales tax, that a 5Q straight line depreciation be allowed for Incone tax purposes (federal and Provincial), that ICCJI depreciation be granted under provincial wining, duties legis lation and that the facilities involved be exenpt fron real estate taxation* ../B 37148 VMJi cc - 10. a} that, whereas asbestos-nine employment is regarded as a secure occupation, jobs with other aining operations are not; b) that both Asbestos and Thatford Hines are regardtd as being "isolated*, aaay from the cain-stxaan or Quabae life, a disavantage shared by all aining operations; c) that employment at a senior (i.e. supervisory or staff) level In any aining operation in Quebec aaans conpeting on AngloSaxon texas in a largely Anglo-Saxon environment. ' In vita of these findings, it aas recommended that early action ba taken to provide students aith soaa form of counselling as to * job opportunities and aorking conditions aithin the industry, so as to eoapleaent the apparently inaccurate career guidance they receive in school or at home. dmgggsEWTAi cowtsol eowmc Progress aas reported by Chsircsn by specific subjects . 1. Sub-coaaittea on Design - This sub-cceaittee ass inaugurated on -July 30th at a seating in Asbestos* All coapanies sere represented. The suboeooaittee should achieve aeaningful and useful results providing the spirit is aholeheartedly embraced and that is* "A free and ininhibitsd exchange of knoa-hoa, . - . test results, successes and failures on all aspects of design end operation of equipment * to control duet* noise and fuaes in our . ' environaerrt*. ' 3715V .../xi cc XI. 2* Oryer Stack Oust Control - These investigations await the com pletion of the electrostatic Precipitator of Asbestos Corporation. In order to ensure measurements. on stack emission that are directly comparable from plant to plant, approval is requested from the Di rectors for a Oust and fume Determination Assembly at a cost of S6Q0.Q0. Mr. Lachance mould be responsible for the use of this unit end dryer stack emission evaluations. A motion to this effect mas seconded and carried. 3. Tailings Pile Stabilization - The controlled growth chamber has. . been installed at the Sherbrooke Laboratory, and the Director has . designed a veil tboughtout program of test growing of grasses, leg umes end grains under varying growth conditions. 4. legislation - Nothing has been heard from the Deputy Minister of Health since our eecond submission in May 1969 concerning the pro posed legislation on Air Pollution. Many of our requests for chongsa and additions mere implemented in the morking document. 5. Naming Labels on fibre Sags - At ths Clearwater Meeting it had been proposed that member-company Counsels study the matter and advise their principals on the legal implications. It mss.pointed out, however, that J.M. mas piecing warning labels on bags shipped ' to North American customers only. The company feels that otherwise it might bs exposed to law suits in the U.S. OCCUPATIONAL AMO CHVtftOHMCKTAL HCALTH COMMITTEE C.J.Jt. has been taking air samples in ths town of Asbestos and would like to have soma taken in Thetford Mines by its own engineers. The Information thus gathered mould be eventually made available to ell companies. . 37152 /l 2 cc ' 12. Regarding environmental control in major cities,^Cccos^l want to New York to discuss with Or. Selikoff et al wbetjpprotectlva mea sures Mrs taken in the case or the insulation work at the World's Trade Building to prevent dust from escaping into the atmosphere. Since the insulation trade is rather mueh in the linelight thesa days, it is important to sae what can be done to bring exposures . down to tolerable levels. TREASURER 1. BY-LAM Wo. 10 . KNEREA5 it is deemed desirable to amend By-law No, 6 dealing adth the "TRUST AGREEMENT CONCERNING A STAFF PENSION PLAN" so that all eaploysas of the Association aay be eligible to join the Plan; . SC IT RES0LVE0; .. THAT the definition of the term "Employee" ee it appears in Section Ms. 1 of the Provisions of Sy-lew No. 6 dealing with the "Trust Agreement concerning a Staff Pension Plan" be emended so that as from August 1, 1969, it will read; "The Employee" shall eean all employees employed by the Employer. AltO THAT the Secretary of the Association be and he ie hereby authorized end directed to do, sign and execute all things, deeds and doetments necessary or desirable for the due carrying out of the foregoing. CARRIED. 37153 c 1-3. 2 ACRgEffitMT C0NCCRyiKC AMSTArr_PCNS10S_PUAN In view of the resignation of Rr. George W. Swith as one of the Trustees under the Agreeaent dated October 23rd, 1963, IT HAS RESOLVED: THAT Mr. F. Parker Smith be and he is hereby appointed a Trustee of the agreeaent concerning a Staff Pension Plan to replace Hr. George a. Saith aho has resigned. CARRICO. 3. Asbestosls _ Research Courts!1 - Renewal of aeabersMp in said ' ' * Council at an annual fee of JSso as requested by Treasurer. . ._ CARRIED. It was suggested that copies of reports released by the Asbestasis Research Council be ` forwarded free the O9ffice of D.r. P elnar to each Director of the Association. . ttH BUSINESS S2D$X5l-.&2i2f22.25i?i2r2 " Thi deoand for asbestos fibre is ge nerally firs to strong, seaeahat ahead of last year. Thera is an apparent shortage of fibre doan to group 7. Certain coepanies, however, have not experienced so far the usual upward dewand ehich is customary during the Fall season. In the U.S., the construction industry was doing quite well up to the second quarter of 1969, with residential housing starts at soee 1,700,000. As a result of'tight aoney, however, housing starts in August dropped to a rats of 1,360,000 and way continue to decline down to 1,200,000 units by the end of tho year. This trend could - 37154-Ju cc 14. carry on into the first half of 1570, to gradually accelerate, how ever, in third and fourth quarter to sow 1,600,000 to 1,700,000 housing starts for 1970. In general, the economy seems to be slow ing (town. * In other words business is not too optimistic as regards the short range.forecast, with a difficult-to-rough period ahead for the build ing industry. It is estimated that multiple family housing units (apartment buildings) will increase by 50/% in the course of next year. This could bring about e drop of 25% in demand for building . materials. However, hopefully this trend should improve in the second half of 1970. Impact of mobile homes on the* asbestos industry is slso expected to be considerable - 400,000 homes to be built in 1969 or 20% of total housing starts. " . Inflation is being^felt generally as a result of expensive wage settlement* and strikes. In the last three years cost to carry a . man on payroll has increased 50% (310,300.00). If the present trend of wage increases should continue at a rate of 6-fijC per year, by year 2,000 A.D. an hourly-employee mould be asking 3100,000. a year. This is surely a causa for concern on the part of eanagement. Yet ovar the long range. Industry is confident that the economy- will maintain on tha average a healthy and generally, constant growth. #* QgTC OF NgXT ttCZTtVC The next meeting will be held on January the 6th, 1970, at the Sent Royal Motel) this will be the annual meeting. It it suggested that in the meantime a reception be extended by tha Association to Government* Officials, ssnlor civil servants, ate. on a Sunday avening in asrly December in Quebec City. Date 37155 .As c o r "r i c 6. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORT o lU*'r * . / MET CLASSIFICATION SUB-COWWITTCE This project is awaiting information concerning reliable sieves and the apparatus, before a procedure can be finalized. A.S.T.ffl. 0-30 Three tests are being considered by this group at the next meeting on the 27th and 28th of October. These are the Colour Test, the Ro-tap Test and a Moisture Content Procedure. The next meeting of the Technical Committee is planned to include a tour of the Canadian Pulp & Paper Research Institute tentatively the 11th of November, at which time our common problems of fibre classification -are to be discussed. R. Dodds-Hebron, Chairman. c uni roam classification and grading committee repost XTM mm o' QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL FALL MEETING - SEIGNIORY CLUB - MONTEBELLO, P.Q. UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION AND CflADINC COMMITTEE REPORT A meeting of the Committee was held on September 25th, Watters of interest to Q.A.Pt.A. Directors were: ' 1. Fibre Lenoth & Diameter The program using the "Zeiss Analyzer" and the "Image Shearing" is making good progress. All of the 3to 6 Croup 1966 Exchange Sam ples will have been measured for length by the end of September. C The measuring of diameter is slower, however, it will be put on a two shift basis and should be completed by late November. A computer retrogression analysis will be set up immediately and the measured length data will be compared with the Strength Unit, Quebec Standard, McNett, Rapid Surface Area, and Rotap test results of these same fibres. A differentiation will be made between Pennington dyke fibres and others. As soon as the length results are available they will be sent to individual Q.A.W.A. Member Companies for their study. A similar program will be followed for the diameter measure ments and for combined length-diameter studies. 2. Dept, of Mines - Uttawa The Chairman cf the Technical and the Chairman of the Uniform Classification and Grading Committees composed a letter to Mr. Woodrooffe on August 22nd briefly as follows: i 2. (a) The .need for a review of the asbestos research program. (b) The need tc accelerate such a program. (c) Suggested needed research areas and possible methods showing most promise. A copy of the "Review of Asbestos Research Programs" which was sent to Ottawa is attached to this report. Ue have had a reply from Mr. Woodrooffe and Mr, Oodds-Hebron and I, accompanied by Mr. Cossette, will arrange a nesting with the Ottawa group early in November. . 3. Monthly "Shipping Tests" Report At present on this report both tonnage shipped and the G.S, tests (highest, loweot'"'and average) are reported by fibre Group for 3, 4, 5 & 6 Group fibres, and by Sub-Grade for Group 7. Mr. Messel has suggested that the report show tonnage and G.S. tests by Grade for all fibres. There is unanimous agreement that Q.S. tests should be by Grade. For the reporting of tonnage shipped the present report penalizes those companies which ship a lot of 7 Group fibres. In other words why by sub-grades for.7 Group and by Croup only for 3 to 6 Groups? At the meeting of the Uniform Classification and Grading Committee on September 25th the opinion seemed to be unanimous that at least the report should be consistent, that is, report all fibre groups similarly - all by Group, or all by Grade, or all by Sub-Grade. With some compromising by the end of this September 25th meeting agreement was obtained (except for one company) on reporting ton o nage by grades. The single company still not agreeing to tonnage by grades is to reatudy this idea. .. /3 cc "r 44 ffetric System 4.1 Baa Uteiohts Individual Companie: 3M to study the implications of 45 Kg (99 lbs*), 4 !88.2 lbs.) and 25 Kg, (55.1 lbs.). There was an expressed feeling that lighter bags were de sirable and probably will be necessary in the near future, but the costs of bags and equipment changes need serious consideration. 4.2 Q.S. Test . The suggested sample weight is 500 grams. The present one pound is 453 grams. The probable changes in test results using the greater weight is to be studied by Member Companics, /^change in test time may be necessary. There doesn't seem tc be any problem with screen specifi cations for the Q.S. machine. U.S. standard cloth is very close in size of wire and hole to present cloth. Present . Tyler cloth will soon disappear in any case. It seems, at the moment, that the Q.S. test would be re ported as a percentage on each box. This will call for a revision of Q.S. test minima and maxima. This will be undertaken when agreement is reached on sample weight and meshes to be used. ID.K. Foster, Chairman. O cc APPENDIX RCVIEtf OF ASBESTOS hESCARCH PROGRAMS . BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AND THE UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION AND CRAPING CDWffilTTEE OF THE QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION Research areas which appear, at this tine, would probably be nest productive. (1) Sasic Needs ' means to measure: - (a) Length - Diameter (Dimensional modulus), ib) Openness - Crudiness (Crudiness). (cJ Harshness - Softness (Texture). (d) Amount of True fibre (or Converse). (2) methods of Measuring considered of most promise (a) Dimensional modulus Zeiss particle sire analyzer (Q.A.M.A. Lab.) Image Shearing "" ' Coulter Counter for shorter fibres There is a distinct possibility that these will require a division of fibre into long and short (using, say, wash test C-4) and use Zeiss and Image Shear on the longer por tion and the Coulter Counter on the shorter. Automation possibilities - Collins Tape Dispersion flow-past Electronic Counter Could this be National Research Council work? .../2 c 2. (b) Crudineas Specific Surface (Gas absorption) freeness and (or) fiitarability Length/diameter ratio (from Zeiss and Image Shear) (c) Texture Ratio Isotopes Percent combined water (dif ferential thermal analysis) flextural Strength Infra-red absorption Compressibility a Recovery (Test 0-4) (d) Percent True fibre - Zeta potential Dielectric dissipation factors August 22, 1969. r QUEBEC ASSESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL FALL MEETING - SEIGNIORY CLUB - ffiOKTCBELLO, P.Q. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT A meeting of the Committee was held on September 23rd last. Labour Agreements All except National Asbestos have signed contracts. The expiry dates are listed as follows: Lake Asbestos Asbestos Corporation Carey Canadian -8ll Asbestos C. J.tn. National Flintkote Dec. 31 - 69 Dec. 31 - 71 Dec. 31 - 71 June 30 - 70 Jan, 31 - 72 Dec. 31 - 66 Dec. 31 - 71 National had a meeting for certification scheduled for September 15 before the Labor Relations Board but the Steel Workers and Board failed to appear. Possibly meeting will be rescheduled after October 15 when the new Labor Court is in operation. Lake Asbestos states that negotiations should start in November at their location. Workmen*s Compensation A review of compensation costs and accident frequency for the last 5 years is given hereunder: Vj .../2 c 2. i !} is ii i ii `i Year Ind. Ini. 1964 1965 1966 1967 ' I960 6 mos.'69 230,037 373,029 330,166 295,056 411,282 60,104 Ind. Dis. 155$ Charae Total 123,520 76,716 153,475 103,117 362,057 3,259 53,232 67,502 72,396 60,046 115,581 10,704 414,709 510,127 556,038 459,019 088,921 82,068 Per . m. 'irs. Freo . Sev. 8.7 12.3 15.1 17.6 19.6 24.0 959 1,100 2,558 1,500 1,183 784 This does not include the Mutual assessment charge d. It is believed industrial disease claims could become larger than accident claims. The mutual asses strion* of 00^ has only been issued this month . This is the highest to date. Our frequency has increased steadily over the years but not the sever ity. This is partially due to the accepting of previously unallowed claims for back, hearing, heart, condition, etc. Safety life are still using W. Montgomery on industry safety. He is now giving us full time and this is very satisfactory arrangement. Arbitration \ 4 At the last meeting of the Committee, recent cases were reviewed as well as several industry grievances and methods of handling same. 4 4 Typical and interesting arbitration decisions were reported. 3 O .,/3 i i i 4 cc r o .. 3- (1) C.J.M. lost an arbitration case on 1 day layoff for sleeping. Proof was not satisfactorily established. Unless a man de liberately leaves his place of work for the express reason to sleep* he is not asleep. (2) If a man comes back to work before start of shift and con tinues on, the court has judged this to be overtime - not - call time. Asbestos Corporation received a favorable ver dict. (3) Severity of penalty is a prerogative of management. Lake re ceived a favorable verdict in respect to a penalty imposed. A joint meeting of Q.M.M.A., Q.A.MlA. and O.f'l.A. j.s scheduled in Montreal November 21 to discuss mining problems related to Work men's Compensation Act, Accident Prevention and other union prob lems. - O . ' Air Pollution . ' Ouring discussion by the Committee of Quebec's intent in this re gard, it was mentioned that the original and revised working docu ments had been analyzed by the Environmental Control Committee and pertinent representations submitted to the Quebec Department of Health. Several suggestions were accepted by the Department. When the official legislation is formally tabled before the National Assembly, it is believed that both the environmental Control Com mittee and the Industrial Relations Committee should get together to study the Bill. Legislation Bill 49 on Manpower training has become law. A meeting is scheduled through Mr. P.A. riltsau on October 15 with Quebec Labour Deportmeet Officials to discuss its operation end implications. O J.O. Eby, Chairman. cc o QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL FALL MEETING - SEIGNIORY CLUB - fUQNTEBELLO. P.Q. TRAFFIC COffifflITTEE REPORT 1. There has been no meeting of the Traffic Committee since the last meeting of the Association, but meetings will shortly be held with a view to making arrangements and negotiating rates for the ocean carriages of asbestos for the year 1970. - 2. Rail rates to the Rio Grande crossing points to fiexico from Quebec origin on fibre, have been decreased by approximately 14% by reason of 60-ton rates being es- , tablished to-make them competitive with similar rates established from west coast origins. 3. Demurrage rates on cars, containing export traffic have been increased by 810. a day with no change in free time, effective September 1st, 1969. At the same time domestic demurrage rates have been increased to 810. per day for the first four days and 820. for each day thereafter. The Association has protested to the Railway Association of Canada and the Canadian Transport Commission about this arbitrary action, and although acknowledgment has been received, no remeoial action has 90 far been taken. O .../2 cc 4, The middle Atlantic Trucking Conference (Eastern United States) has raised its rates 2% across the board, ef fective August 25th, 1969, to put them in ths same position as the U.S. Railroads, which were recently granted an equivalent increase by the ICC. I.C. Campbell, Chairman. c \ c!: O 6. A joint Senate-Commons Committee is being set up to make the spe cial study of the tax reform measures. Shortly aftar publication of the White Paper the committee will open hearings. It will hear the government's explanation of the proposed new legislation, and later it will receive representations from interested parties. The new tax laws will be introduced in 1970. The mining Association of Canada has recently published and distri buted widely a booklet on "Taxes the Wining Industry and economic . Growth". It covers the subject very well. PUSLIC RELATIONS COWTITTEE . c o In the absence of the Chairman, the General manager summarized the report prepared by the Director of Information Services as follows: 1. Asbestos Producer - Planned for late summer and early fall issues are major stories on the role of QAfllA member-companies as taxpayers (this to supssrt the campaign of the Wining Association of Canada to counter changes in existing federal tax legislation), on the nature and job-security implications of the collective agreements signed during the summer by four member-companies, and on the inter dependent roles of management and hourly-paid personnel in achieving and maintaining profitable and hence secure mining operations. The savings to the achieved by combining the July-August end Decernber-Januery issues have already been reported to the Public Relations s Committee. { i t % ( Readership Survey - The General fflanager has entered discussions with the Sociology Department of Laval University with the aim of enlisting the assistance of a qualified person to develop and con duct a meaningful readership survey in the late summer or early .../7 a w *.. c r Ii I O II J i 7. fall. Aim of the survey will be to establish the actual extent and potential limits to which the opinions of the bulk of readers on economic and social matters of concern to the industry are or can be influenced by editorial content. 2. "Tacts about Asbestos*1 brochure - Publication of this booklet is scheduled for July 31, u/hen separate Trench and English edrticns, 3,500 copies of each, will be available. Copies will be distributed as quickly as possible to federal members of Parliament from Quebec const!tuencies, all WAN's, senior federal and provincial civil ser vants, business and mining editors of professional, trade and week ly publications and to regional school boards. Copies of the book will also be sent to member-companies who are invited to order cop ies from the Montreal Office, at 10 cents a copy plus shipping char ges when applicable. 3. QAMA Mobile Disolay - Terre des Hommes - Arrangements have been made to include this display as an exhibit in Terre des Hommes. Accompanied by a 100-pound block of cruoe-bearing ore from Lake Asbestos, plus manufactured product samples from Atlas Asbestos end Canadian Johr.s-Manville, the display is featured in the Natural Re sources Pavilion operated by the"Cercle de Jeunes Naturalistes,'in the former Man the Provider complex on St.Helen's Island. 4. Informal Opinion Soundlno - A two-day stay was made in Thetford Mines in late June to conduct a small-scale and informal survey of industry employees and residents.Such cpinicn-samplinos every two months or so allow individual PR Committee members to compare opin ion and attitude feedbacks they constantly receive. The procedure also represents a small step towards making the QAMA's communications program a two-way affair. A request has been received from a member-company for an opinion and attitude insight as to why comparatively few youngsters in the asbeatoe-mining communities are motivated towards pursuing studies that ./a c rw i1ii o 8. could lead to a career as a mining engineer or technician with an %: ti \ asbestos-mining company. Findings of a survey on the subject will be available by the end of September. Consideration should also be given to the desirability of using the Producer to promote the at tractions of a career as a mining engineer with an asbestos mining company. ' c m ft 4 Procosed_MActualit Sugglement"_on_the^Winin2_Industry - With the help of G.ffl.h.A, and D.A.ffl.A. this publication plans to publish a special supplement on the mining industry in color in its October issue. This would be a prestige type of presentation intended to obviate certain misconceptions and opinions in the general oublic by underlining the better aspects and advantages cf the industry. Additional copies would be distributed to schools in order to a rouse the interes-t-of youth in attempting a career in the mining industry. ' Collaboration to the editorial content has been requested from several people, amongst whom the General manager of the Associa tion. Also in order to cover the extra costs of such a supplement the magazine intends to contact through a professional advertising firm the various people responsible for publicity with their respec tive company. _ Jj 'i . *' -'2 . 3. * I L The matter has been left with the Public Relations Committee and the General manager for study and action as deemed advisable. INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL AND EMVIRONPlENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE The Chairman reported that several project applications had recently been studied by the Scientific Committee end that their recommenda tions will be submitted to the Executive Committee. A meeting of * ./9 / --Ta-Cj r~-y c .' r\ ' . . 9. the latter was proposed and agreed to be held on September 3rd in the Wii Isor Hotel, Montreal, at 6,00 p.m. Dr. J.C. McDonald has been asked to submit a preliminary report on his epidemiological survey of Quebec asbestos mine workers at the next Special Meeting of the Association, to be held at the Seigniory Club, October 7th-10th, 1969. ,, Towards the Safe Use of Asbestos_Fibre - The Chairman stated that various changes and corrections had been requested by member-compa nies and further stated that the objective in publishing such a reference book was to inform scientific and medical circles of the work presently being conducted by the Institute and to receive prop er credit for same. Objections to certain statements appearing in the book were repeated and it was agreed that the Forward and Intro duction of the book would be revised and submitted to Directors for their approval at-"an early date. EHVIRQ"MENTAL CONTROL COMMITTEE 1. A sub-committee on design was appointed and.met on July 30th, 1969. The terms of reference of the sub-committee were defined and a Chairman elected. The Q.A.M.A. dust engineer will be a member of this sub-committee. 2. Tailings Stabilization - Mr. Cossette has visited International Nickel Company to observe their tailings stabilization and seeding. The control chamber at the Sherbrooke Lab. has bean built and a litterature search of all pertinent articles is being conducted. 3. The status of current projects at J.M. was brisfly explained by the Chairman. In the dryers the Rotoclone dust collectors are suc--. cessful but not perfect. There has been a substantial improvement ^ with the use of glass fibre bags, since the latter can stand higher .../IQ c temperatures, If'it works in the dryers, where the moisture is high, it should no doubt work in the crusher rooms. This experimental work comes under the terms of reference of the sub-committee on Design and it is hoped that free exchange of information will take place. 4, Legislation - Nothing has been heard from the Provincial Depart ment of Health concerning our comments to the second draft of their proposed legislation on air pollution. It is anticipated that the Associution will be given the opportunity to review a third draft of said legislation. . S. Warning Labels on Fibre Bags - In answer to a question from a Di rector, it was pointed out that no reaction had been expressed by users as to the printing of a cautionary label on fibre bags by J.M. This label is restricted to shipments to Canada and U.S.A. new business . Resignation of Mr, J.A, Wain as a Director WHEREAS Mr. J.A. Main is retiring from all active duties with the Flinlkote Company, a member of the Quebec Asbestos Mining Associa tion; WHEREAS Mr. Main has submitted his resignation as Director cf the Association in a latter to the President dated July 11th, 1969; It Was Moved _ THAT the Board of Directors of Q.A.M.A. accept the resignation of Mr, Main and convey to the latter the unanimous appreciation -jf the Board for hie genuine contribution, wise counselling and cordial ftiendship during his many years as a Director of this Association} ./ll cc a n. THAT his colleagues on the Board extend their best wishes for many happy and healthy years of leisure to him and his gracious wife. The motion was seconded and adopted unanimously. Mr. Main replied that he was happy to spend his last working day with the group and that he would miss these periodic get-togethers. He extended to the Association his best wishes for a successful future. .. Election of Mr. M.C. Carpenter to the Board of Directors It was moved and seconded that Mr. M.C. Carpenter be elected z Director of Q.A.M.A. to represent the Flintkote Company. "T O Salary Adjustments CARRIED. The following salary adjustments were proposed and adopted by the Directors, effective August the 1st, 1969: - Mr. Maurice Lachance, annual increase - Cil,wnwnwn . Miss Simone Toupin, M it - S6Q0.QQ Miss Denyse Cote, n m - S60C.CO Mr. Ccrrgc Robinson, n ii - 3600.DO Dr. Pernis Pelnar, i ii - 32,000. Mr. Paul-A. filteau. i ii - 52,000. Rsvisions to QAMA Pension Plan - By-Law No. 9 The proposed improved pension plan for Messrs. Pelnar and Filteau as tabled at the meeting of the Association of June the 9th, 1969, and spelled out in the minutes of said meeting was approved by the Board of Directors, subject to securing approval of the Quebec . --/l2 ~ osMuuiatt c\ c r . 12 Pension Board and other relevant authorities. The same pension benefits would also be applicable in the case of (Hr. J. Gossip. This revised plan to constitute By-Law No, 9, provisions and conditions of which are given hereunder: BY-LAW No.9 WHEREAS By-law No.6, being a by-law dealing with the "TRUST AGREEMENT CONCERNING A STAFF PENSION PLAN", was enacted by the Association ontne 2Bth day of October 1963; WHEREAS the "Termination of Service" clause of the said By-law No. 6 was amended by enacting By-law No. 7 on t.he 12Ln day of December 1966 end by By-law No. 8 on the 28th day of March 1968 in order to conform with the Quebec Supplemental Pension Plans Actf AND WHEREAS it is desirable to further amend the said By-law No. 6 in order to up-date the benefits accruing to tha employees under the said Pension Plan; . NOW THEREFORE BE IT ENAC'ED AND IT IS HERESY ENACTED as By-law No. 9 of the Association, effective August 1, 1969, as follows: 1) THAT Clause 5 dealing with "Future Service Policy" be amended to provide that the formula be increased from of the Employee's annual rate of pay to 2% of the Employee's annual rate of pay; and . 2) THAT Clause No. 6 dealing with "Employee Contributions" be amended to provide that each Employee shall from the effective date hereof make contributions equal to 5JS of his annual rate or' pay instead of of his annual rate of pay; .,,/l3 cc 13. The Directos and Officers of the Association be and they are hereby authorized to do, sign and execute all things, deeds and documents necessary for the due carrying out of the foregoing. CARRIED The Treasurer has been asked to look into the possibility of repatriating the pension schemes of the fibre inspector and dust control engineer, which are presently included in the group plan of Asbestos Corporation Limited. Correspondence In reply to a letter from for. fflaximov of the U.S.5.R. Trade Repre sentation in Montreal, it was agreed that cne pound samples of No. 1 & 2 Crude would be provided by A.C.L., Bell Asbestos Mines and C.J.M. These to be sent out through the Quebec Office of the Associaticn. ADJOURNMENT In moving the adjournment the meeting extended a vote of thanks to C.J.M. for the arrangements made in connection with subject meeting. Next meeting to be at the Seigniory Club, October ?th-lCth, 1969. Peul-A. Filteau Cenersl Manager and Secretary. W c -n r 10. LEGISLATION ANO TAXATION COMMITTEE REPORT M... o _ *am cc . ' QUEBEC ASGcSTOS WIPING ASSOCIATION ' SPECIAL FALL MEETING - SEIGNIORY CLU9 - MONTEBELLO, P.Q. LEGISLATION AND TAXATION COMMITTEE REPORT 1. Tax Reform Finance Minister E.J. Benson, has indicated that "good progress" was evident in the preparation of the White Paper on government tax reform and that there is "no resistance" in the Cabinet. Ke expects that the Paper will be ready to be made public about the end of October. In this connection, at the recent Wines Minis ters Conference in Toronto, (see item 3 of this report) a reso lution was passed suggesting that the the Minister request the Federal Government to avoid any further delay in bringing down the White Paper on tax reform. A good portion of the White Pa per, we are told, has been already approved in draft form. It would seem from what information trickles through that the pur ported tax revisions will be more and more of a compromise. 2. Joint Meeting of the Q.A.M.A. and Q.K.M.A. Tax Committees The last joint meeting of the Tax Committees of the two Associa tions was held on August 26 last. a) Diesel Gil Tax - In visa of ths tax reform announced by the new Minister cf Fincncc for Quebec, Mr. M. 8eaulieu, the joint meeting considered that it would be appropriate to present to the new Minister an up-dated submission on Diesel Oil Tax applicable to off-highway vehicles jointly with the Pulp and Paper Associa tion anc other groups using off-highway equipment. The brief will likely be submitted to the Committee recently appointed to advise the Minister of Finance. c r 2. b) Air and Water Pollution - In view of the recently announced policy of.the Federal Government in this respect and the pres sures at the Provincial and Municipal levels, it was agreed to request tax incentives for the construction of pollution control facilities. To this end it was suggested that a resolution be presented on this question at the Mines Ministers Conference in Toronto on September 14-17, 1969. See it^m 3 below. ' c) Wining Duties Audit - As regards the application of the new Wining Duties Act (1966), the general consensus at the joint meet ing was that classification of treatment facilities was broad and quite satisfactory, but that development expenses are not as broad as per section 83A of the Income Tax Act. A good many expenses are not allowed as deductions and have been the object of recom mendation by Committee No.3 - Royalties, Taxation and Tariffs, at the recent Mines Ministers Conference. See item 3 hereunder, 3. Provincial Mines Ministers Conference in Toronto W.UJ. Gughtred, the General Manager of your Association and the undersigned attenoed a well organized and in our opinion a very successful conference of the Provincial Mines Ministers in Toronto, September 14-17 last. The overall impression gained is that the discussions in the six different committees brought about some very constructive recommendations. Committee No. 3 - Royalties, Taxa tion and Tariffs, for one was very active. Some of its more im portant recommendations can be summarized as follows: a) Federal Tax Reform - In anticipation of the government White Paper, attention was directed again in a recommendation to the Mines Ministers concerning the Carter Report to the stivers.2 ef fects on the mining and petroleum industries which the adoption of the recommendations contained in the report of the Carter Commiesion would entail. .../3 c *\ 3. b) Air and Water Pollution Control facilities - Whereas the re cently outlined federal policy in respect of water pollution con trol, and to be applied in conjunction with the Provinces, ts'ruld require heavy capital investments and that industry and munici palities will likely beer most of the burden, it was recommended that pollution control facilities be fully exempt from federal and Provincial sales tax, that a 50^ straight line depreciation be allowed for income tax purposes (federal and Provincial), that 100/s depreciation be granted under provincial mining duties le gislation and that the facilities involved be exempt from real estate taxation. c) Uniformity of Allowances and Disallowances under the Various Alining Acts in -Canada - five substantial and realistic recommen dations were submitted for approval of this committee. These concern depreciation, processing allowance, allowable deductions, partially allowable and disallowable deductions. The five propo sals were submitted to the attention of the Wines ministers for their future action in this regard. d) Reclamation and Conservation Expenditures - With regards to reclamation and conservation of land used in mining operations it was recommended that all expenditures for said purposed incurred during the operation of a mine be allowed as operating expense (deductible under federal and Provincial income tax and Provin-.' cial mining tax) and that some sort of reserve fund (as opposed tc the posting of a bond at the start) be set up for reclamation expenditures after cessation of mining operations. .../4 mm--i-w 111 n iit c r , r o 4. With mounting pressures and demand on Governments for better edu cational facilities, increased social welfare assistance, etc. one must come to the inescapable conclusion that, whatever taxa tion reform the Federal or Provincial governments may seek to implement the impending result is a heavier tax burden for*almost every sector of our economy. And industry will surely not be the least affected, even if one would fear that such might retard our normal progress. Plichael J. Vessel, Chairman. O I'i .> m o V ? i. V' cc c G c* QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL TALL MEETING - SEIGNIORY CLUB - MONTEBELLO, P.fl. PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES During the period from August 1 to the present, public relations activities have been pursued in the following areas: 1. ASBESTOS PRODUCER . Editorial emphasis in the July-August, September and October issues has been placed on these themes: a) Canada and Canadianism. b) The contribution by the Canadian mining industry, and asbestos mining in particular, to varying levels of the Canadian Bconomy. c) The serious economic dangers of reducing tax allowances to min ing companies engaged in development work* Introduction of this theme is in support of the program currently being con ducted by the Mining Association of Canada to forestall pos sible amendments to existing federal tax legislation. d) Planned for fall and early 1970 issues are major stories on:- the interdependent role of management and labor in securing and maintaining profitable operations and the mutual benefits of such interdependency; the role of ths asbestos-mining com pany in municipal affairs; continuing efforts to propagandize on behalf both of federalism and of preserving the status quo f-3 in federal tax legislation applicable to mining companies. e) As mentioned in previous reports, the December-January issue will be combined and is scheduled to appear during the first week of January* . *../2 Q // n 'A cJ /\ v/ 2. QAWA LITERATURE 2. a) Facts about Asbestos brochure* Each company has now a basic suoply of 100 French and 100 English copies of the booklet. Copies have been mailed, with an accompanying letter signed by the General Manager, to federal Members of Parliament and Ca binet Ministers from Quebec constituencies, all Members of the National Assembly,' senior federal and provincial civil servants, notably in the mining and educational fields, to all segments of the daily, financial, trade and professional press,, to re gional school boards and to senior officers of other industrial associations. Response to the mailing is gratifying, with over 100 letters of acknowledgment'received, as well as more meaningful results in the shape of requests from news media for briefings and addi tional written material about the industry, editorials in two mining community newspapers, end, from schools, requests for more copies than are currently available.' One conclusion to be 'drawn from this response is that there is a continuing and strong demand from many levels of the Quebec public for factual information about the industry and its con tribution to the Provinca, b) In light of the /foregoing, it is accordingly submitted that an effective and reasonably economical means of capitalizing cn this demand would be to present the Association's yearly state ment on the status and prospects of the industry as a printed bilingual 'document, accorded the same broad distribution as above but excluding schools and including the financial-economic community. Several major associations in the resource indus tries field follow this practice, which can be viewed as the industry's annual report. /3. c o> > :/ 7/ For distribution to nevus media, a press release presenting the highlights of the Association's report would be circulated to gether with the report. * Estimated requirements, allowing a small surplus for additional distribution by member-companies, is 650 copies. Total quoted production cost is S625.00 (plus or minus 5^) including taxes. Save for the cost estimate, which was not available at the time, the proposal was presented to the Public Relations Committee September 12 and approved for submission to the Directors. c) Stock of literature on hand in the Montreal office is as follows: This is Asbestos Facts about Asbestos - 643 - English, 1193 - French 2,353 - English, 2QQ9 - French 3. QAftIA MOBILE DISPLAY The display has now been moved by the City of Montreal from its location at Terre des Hommes to its fabricators for refurbishment. Arrangements are now concluded with the West Island Regional ' School Board, in Montreal for the display to be available, as a teaching aid in economic geography, in late October. 4. PRESS MENTION'S . a) In August, a news story was prepared, approved and distributed to all major news meoia in Canada, including all mining commu nities, to support the campaign now being conducted by the Min ing Association of Canada to offset any amendments to existing federal tax legislation that could prove prejudicial to the in dustry. The story enjoyed good coverage in the financial pages and was incorporated into various '`round-up" articles by finan cial editors on current mining developments or the likely effects of tex incentive reduction upon mine development. M /4 When and if similar story opportunities present themselves, it is suggested they be handled in the same way. Copies of the press release and of the press clippings it generated have been distributed to members of the Public Relations Committee. b) Quebec weekly and weekend publications continue to devote sporad ic coverage to situations involving relationships between munici palities end mining companies, both in Asbestos and Thetfcrd ' mines* In the light of this situation, it is suggested that, as recommended earlier, an authoritative article, or a series, be developed in the Producer to demonstrate the varied contribu tions that the mining companies, at both corporate and employee levels, make to municipal life and well-being. The point should continually be made that the quality of life enjoyed by the citi zens of the mining towns is, for their size and location, excep tionally high and that this is attributable solely to the econo mic input from'The mining companies as well as the talents and energy their emoloyees make available. c) Asbestos fibre continues to receive unfavorable press through a steady trickle of mentions in all sections of the national press (frequently credited to an overseas source) as a health hazard. Copies of these clippings are circulated to the Public Relations Committee and to Or. Pelnar. This subject is pursued in Section 6 below. 5. INDUSTRY BRIEF TO CENDRON COMMISSION At its September 12 meeting, the Public Relations Committee au thorized the Ceneral Manager to submit the final draft of the industry's brief to QAM Directors before presenting it to the Gendron Commission. The Director of Information Services was in turn authorized to prepare a press release on the industry's . /5 V /-% 5. presentation for distribution within Quebec including the Pro ducer at the time the brief is submitted. Contents of the re lease are subject to PR Committee approval. 6. HEALTH SITUATION ' In light of the forthcoming preliminary report by Or. McDonald on results of the Epidemiological Survey of the populations of Asbestos and Thetford Mines, concern was expressed by the Public Relations Committee at the continuing bad press which asbestos fibre continues to receive in this country and abroad as a cause of resoiratory disease. Committee-members stressed the need both for a positive and comprehensive statement, publicized as extensively as possible, by the industry on the subject and for promptly advising the union and local populations of any publish able findings'^ To this end, it is recommended that an ad hoc committee be formed without delay, under the auspices of the Public Relations Com mittee to develop and coordinate a program for the release of this statement and to submit an estimate of the costs that are likely to be entailed. 7. OTHER PUBLIC RELATION'S ACTIVITIES An informal survey, prepared at the instigation of a membercompany, as to why so few youngsters in the asbestos-mining com munities wish to pursue mining engineering studies has been com pleted and is available to all member-companies. It shows that 17- and IB-yeer-old youngsters are oadly informed (and ill-guided) about career opportunities within the asbestos mining industry or with mining companies in general and that . ../6 cv 6 many of them think about a career in woolly terms of "working with people" and "getting away from Thetford mines". Three points arise from the interviews with the youngsters (five in Asbestos, 20 in Thetford Wines): a) That whereas asbestos-mine employment is regardeJ as a secure occupation, jobs with other mining operations are not. b) That both Asbestos and Thetford Wines are regarded as being "isolated", away from the main-stream of Quebec life, a dis advantage , respondents claim, shared by all mining Opera tion** c) That employment at a senior (i.e, supervisory or staff) level in any mining operation in Quebec means competing on Anglo- Saxon terms with Anglo-Saxons in a largely Anglo-Saxon envi ronment. Whether the industry - or the Thetford segment of it - views high-school students as eventual employees or not, it is accor dingly recommended that: a) early action be taken to provide students with some form of counselling as to job opportunities and working conditions within the industry, so as to complement the apparently non existent or grossly inaccurate career guidance they receive in school or at home. b) Independently of the above proposal, consideration be given to developing a more thorough investigation and analysis (possibly by professionals) of the attitudes of yound psople towards the industry so as to develop, if necessary, an ef fective and continuing means of keeping them informed of its nature, status and contribution. .. #/7 cc o 7. c) That, in the meantime, renewed emphasis be placed in the Pro ducer on the number of French-speaking Canadians who have risen to responsible posts and are pursuing self-fulfilling and re warding careers. This theme could be closely linked to that of indentifying the aims of both management and labor. 6. PUBLIC CONTACT During the period under review, requests for information and/ or literature about asbestos were received by the Montreal office as follows; Phoned requests - 44 (mainly for product or job information; Written requests - 30 (mainly for literature O Personal visits and from schools) - 6 (including a man seek ing a sample of moon rock) John Gossip, Director of Information Services. I.C. Campbell, Chairman - Public Relations Committee. o 12. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL COMMITTEE REPORT O QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL FALL MEETING - SEIGNIORY CLUB - MONTEBELLO P.Q. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL COMMITTEE REPORT Three meetings of your committee have been held since the last special meeting. Progress has been made; we report by specific subjectt 1. Sub-committee on Oesion This sub-committee was inaugurated on July 30th at a meeting in Asbestos. All companies were represented by members who are specifically occupied in the design, engineering evaluation and implementation of environmental control measures. The Chairman of your committee defined the terms of reference, the function and the spirit of the sub committee. The sub-committee will achieve meaning ful and useful results providing the spirit is whole heartedly embraced and that is; "A free and ininhibited exchange of know-how, test results, successes and failures on all aspects of design and operation of equipment to control dust, noise and fumes in our environment." The sub-committee then toured Mill 5 and were given an up-to-date report on all current projects at the Jeffrey Mine. .../2 2. The sub-committee held their first meeting in Thetford Mines on September 4, 1969. 2. Dryer Stack Dust Control These investigations await the completion of the electrostatic Precipitator of Asbestos Corporation after which the sub-committee will review all test ' results and prepare a comparative report. In order to ensure measurements on stack emission that are directly comparable from plant to plant, your committee recommends that the Dust engineer be provided with a Dust and fume Determination Assembly at a cost of $600.00. Mr. Lachance would then be solely responsible for all evaluations of dryer stack emission. 3. Tailinos^Pile Stabilization The controlled growth chamber has been installed at the Sherbrooke Laboratory. The Director has visited INCQ at Copper Cliff and the J-M Research Centre, as well as completing a comprehensive -survey on all literature on the state of the art. The Director has designed a well thoughtout program of test growing of grasses, legumes and grains under varying growth conditions. The intent is to isolate, as rapidly as possible, candidates for test seedings in the field on both horizontal and stacked tailings piles. 4. Legislation The Oeputy Minister of Health has received our two submissions concerning the proposed legislation on Air Pollution. Many of our requests for changes and additions were implemented in the working document. /3* c h h c We had expected the opportunity to review the third draft, however, we still have heard nothing since our submission in Way. If legislation is to be brought before the next ses sion of the National Assembly, we would like a third opportunity to recommend change before it gets into print. J.R.(fl. Hutcheson, Chairman. C o <r i i- { i; 1 13, ffil 5CCLLANCCUS ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES \. o cV O QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL TALL MEETING - SEIGNIORY CLUB - MONTEBELLO, P.Q. MISCELLANEOUS association ACTIVITIES ERIE" REVIEW 1 -Employer Representatives on Government Commissions - As directed at the last meeting of the Association (July 31/69), the undersigned contacted the Pulp and Paper Association, C.M.A., Q.ffl.M.A. and the Conseil du Patronat regarding stronger and highly competent employ er recommended appointees to the Workmen's Compensation Board, Advisotry Labour Councils, Labour Courts, etc., All were fully in aareement with the suggestion and have agreed to discuss the matter at a future joint meeting of our associations. <5 2. Provincial Government 8ills_^_A9_l<i>50_and_51 - Bills 49 and jr 50 became law' on June 13, 1969, but Bill # 51 was withheld, be cause representations and objections on the part of employers' as sociations. in connection with these bills, several discussions and meeting withofficials of the Provincial Labour Department, of the C.M.A., the Q.fi.M.A. and the Conseil du Patronat took place when the bills were tabled in the House. The Government, however, managed to steam roll Bills # 49 and 50 through the National Assem bly before our objections could be heard, pretending that employers had been consulted through the Advisory Council on Labour and Man power. Bill / 49 is very complex in its application, calling for the set ting of provincial standards of professional qualifications, training programs, employer-employee consultation and regional professional training commissions. Consultation with employers has been soli cited by the Department of Labour and a meeting has been arranged for October IS to discuss the implications and submit rncommpnda- tior.s. .../2 cc 2. r*\ Bill # 50, Labour Courts, is being implemented gradually. The Pres ident (j.P. Gecffroi) and his assistant {D. Quimper) as well as sev eral investigation commissioners, seven out of nine coming from unions, have been appointed effective September 1. We should seek to have employer representatives as commissioners before comolete enactment of new legislation scheduled for October 15. Bill # 51 was withdrawn, when it was pointed out that it was ridi culous to ask any and all employers to apply for a permit From the "Construction License Bureau" for construction or maintenance work. This was in contradiction with their attitude on "contracting out" practices. A revised proposal will be submitted at the next session. 3. Sheet MetalA Island^of_hontreal_>and_a_100-mile_radius_ofts limits. (Notice). - In the Quebec Official Gazette of August 30, 1969, notice was given that the Montreal Construction Association and the Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local 116, had petitioned tMinister of Labour to make binding the collec tive labour aoreement entered between the two associations for em > ployers and employees of the industry and trades concerned located within a ICO-mile radius of the Island of Montreal. " The decree, it was said, applies to all establishments engaged in the manufac ture or fabrication or reconditioning of sheet- metal products......... " In view of the possible interpretation that such a decree could af fect maintenance employees of asbestos mining companies, strong ob jections were made to the Department of Labour, pointing out that this would be an indesirable intrusion which could prove detrimen tal to the present harmonious labour relations climate within the industry. It would sooner or later bring about disruption and difficulties as a result of multiple labour (trades) agreements entered in with companies where teamwork is essential, a condition which has beer, achieved through the negotiating for all employees of a single labour agreement. Therefore the G.A.M.A. contests and questions the above interpretation and wishes to register its vig orous opposition to any juridical extension of subject labour agree- ' ment that would encompass the employees of asbestos mining companies . operating in the Eastern townships of Quebec. ' ~ -77T-/3------------- >ac cc ' ' . . 3. ' 4. Brief to the Cendron Ccmmissian_on_the_french_Lanouaoe_in_Quebec This brief has been prepared by a sub-committee of the P.R.Committee of your Association for approvai by the Directors at the Special Meeting of October 7-10, at the Seigniory Club. If it is accepted, the submission mill then be forwarded to the Commission with a copy of the resolution approving the brief. No doubt the Association will be invited to a public hearing of the Commission and at such time it is planned to properly publicize the submission. The Eng lish version of the brief is appended for your perusal under section 14 of this brochure. 5. Provincial Mines Ministers^Conferenee - This year's annual meeting accomplished a great deal. In addition to the large number of per tinent recommendations submitted by Committee No. 3 - Royalties, Taxation and Tariffs, as well as by the other committees, one recom mendation of importance to the Mining Industry came from the Educa tion Committee. This recommendation suggested to the Provincial Mines Ministers to request their respective Education Ministers that earth sciences be taught in secondary schools across Canada. With similar recommendations made by local C.I.M. branches to their res pective Education authorities, the hoped for eventual result should be a greater interest on the pert of high school students in mineral sciences and ultimately a greater number of mining and geology stu dents in .Universities, a situation which would greatly obviate the present difficulties of recruiting personnel for the Mining Industry. 6. Joint Meetino of the Provincial Mining Associations - The greater part of the recent joint meeting of said associations held in Toronto on the occasion of the Mines Ministers Conference was devoted to a discussion of present and future P.R. efforts on behalf of the mining industry, either to improve its image or to Jorestall any adverse ef fects on the industry resulting from a federal tax reform. The lat ter endeavor calls for the preparation and distribution of literature on mining taxation,advertising in Canadian dailies and business papers, ---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------;/4------------ t 4 speaking engagements by well known mining authorities, visits to Provincial caoitals, etc. Let us hope that this broad concerted program will contribute not only to a better knowledge of the min ing industry at large, but also and especially to a better under standing of its importance and essential function in the overall economy of the country. 7. Annual Meeting of the Chamber of_Commerce_cf_the_Province_of Quebec - At its last annual meeting in Baie-Comeau, the Chamber approved several resolutions with respect to natural resources of the Province, three of which had to do with the government legis lating and enforcing the application of legislation concerning air and water pollution. The undersigned informed the meeting of the present status of proposed legislation on air pollution, stating that a revised draft of the formal legislation is expected any time. In addition, there" was a very important policy recommendation con cerning the mining industry which was approved. It can be summa rized as follows; Since mineral resources contribute substantially to the economy and employment in this province, the government must promote their ex ploration and development under such conditions as will allow tc compete on world markets. To this end Government policies should take into account the non-renewable aspect of mineral resources, the instability of prices for same, the international aspect of markets and the great risks involved in mining exploration and operations. Such a recommendation from the Chamber will no doubt be taken into serious consideration by the Minister of Natural Resources and should be reflected in future amendments to-present mining legislation. Paul-A. Filteau, General Manager. c V; c v * >i v c c C 4 "v *- SUBMISSION ON 6EHALF OF THE / / QUEBEC ASBESTOS BININC ASSOCIATION TO THE / COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON THE i STATUS OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND ON THE LINGUISTIC RIGHTS IN QUE8EC The Quebec Asbestos Mining Association, 580 est, Grande-Alle - Suite 320, Quebec A, Qu. c <r ; to bo dscidad by President and General Manager, eftar checking | '- with the Minister of Satural Resources. A easting of the Directors S could likely be held either the afternoon prior to the reception or t* the following day. \ j ! AOJOURWKCTT ; There being no further business, the westing a formally adjourned. Paul-A. filtaau. Canard Manager 1 T I xwwBai'Bwnw 37156