Saskatchewan creates public asbestos registry for government buildings

REGINA – In what is believed to be a first for a Canadian province, Saskatchewan is making lists available to the public of government buildings that contain asbestos.

Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan says the province will create an asbestos information website.

School districts, universities, health regions and municipalities arebeing encouraged to post their information on the ministry’s web page.

The government says older buildings, especially those constructed prior to 1980, may contain asbestos.

It is not considered harmful if undisturbed, but renovations or construction work stirs up hazardous fibres that can be inhaled.

Howard Willems, a former building inspector, died Thursday from a rare form of cancer that comes from inhaling asbestos fibres.