TORONTO - The families of workers who died of asbestos-related diseases are making a last-ditch plea to stop a project that would revive one of Canada's only remaining asbestos mines.
A few families have banded together with other asbestos critics in a campaign they hope will sway the government of Quebec not to approve a $58-million loan guarantee for the Jeffrey Mine.
The fate of the mine has been in limbo while Quebec makes its decision.
The deadline has been extended several times but the government has said it hopes to have the matter resolved before the Christmas holidays.
Critics argue the asbestos industry has caused cancer deaths in the poor countries where Canada exports the substance.
But defenders say the product can be handled safely.
Beyond their immediate goal of ending support for the mine, the families say they're calling for the government to ban asbestos outright.
Use of the substance remains regulated in Canada, where millions of dollars have been spent to carefully remove loose asbestos that was stuffed decades ago into homes, schools and even the Parliament buildings.
Meanwhile, the Harper government has come under fire for helping to block asbestos from being added to a United Nations international hazardous-chemicals list in June.
