When was asbestos banned in Canada?

Full Canadian asbestos regulation timeline

Canada's relationship with asbestos is longer than most countries'. Quebec was one of the world's largest asbestos producers for more than a century, and Canadian regulation followed industrial policy, not medical evidence, for decades. The full picture:

1876, Commercial asbestos mining begins in Quebec

The first commercial asbestos deposits are worked in what becomes Thetford Mines, Quebec, and later in the town of Asbestos (renamed Val-des-Sources in 2020). Quebec would dominate world chrysotile production for most of the twentieth century.

1930s - 1970s, Widespread industrial and residential use

Asbestos is used across Canadian construction (insulation, cement products, drywall joint compound, flooring, textured coatings), shipbuilding, railway equipment, power generation, refineries, chemical plants, and consumer products including brake pads and stovetop pads. Health harms are documented from the 1930s onward but industrial demand keeps use rising into the 1970s.

1985, Federal ban on crocidolite (blue asbestos)

Canada prohibits the use of crocidolite, the amphibole asbestos type most strongly linked to mesothelioma, in most applications. Chrysotile and amosite remain legal.

Late 1980s, Building codes shift away from asbestos in new construction

Provincial building codes and industry practice move away from asbestos-containing materials in new construction, largely on liability grounds. Products already in inventory continue to be sold and installed for years.

1990s - 2000s, Provincial workplace regulations tighten

Each province updates its occupational-health regulations to require asbestos-management plans, worker training, and licensed abatement for controlled removal. Federal exports of Canadian chrysotile continue, mostly to developing countries, drawing international criticism.

2011, Canadian asbestos mining ends

The Jeffrey Mine in the town of Asbestos, Quebec, ceases production. Thetford Mines ends operations the same year. Canada no longer produces asbestos, but continues to import and use it.

2016, Federal government commits to a full ban

The Government of Canada announces a comprehensive ban on asbestos, ending decades of position that "controlled use" was safe. The commitment includes updating federal building codes and occupational-health rules.

December 30, 2018, The federal ban takes effect

The Prohibition of Asbestos and Products Containing Asbestos Regulations come into force under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The ban applies to:

• Importing asbestos into Canada
• Selling asbestos or asbestos-containing products
• Using asbestos to manufacture new products

Also in 2018, Canada expands the Export of Substances on the Export Control List Regulations to capture asbestos, effectively ending Canadian asbestos exports.

2020, The town of Asbestos renames itself Val-des-Sources

The former Quebec mining town changes its name to reflect a post-mining identity and to distance itself from the industry's legacy.

Today (post-2018), Legacy asbestos, controlled removal

New asbestos and asbestos-containing products cannot lawfully enter Canadian commerce. Legacy asbestos in existing buildings, ships, and equipment is governed by provincial workplace-safety law, not the federal ban.

What the 2018 ban does not do

This is where the ban is most commonly misunderstood. In particular, the federal ban:

• Does not require asbestos already in place to be removed. Insulation, vinyl flooring, popcorn ceilings, pipe wrap, drywall compound, and cement products installed before 2018 remain in millions of Canadian homes and workplaces. Removing them is governed by provincial workplace-safety law, not the federal ban.
• Does not compensate people previously exposed. Compensation for asbestos-related disease is a separate matter, handled through provincial workers' compensation boards, asbestos trust funds, and, in some cases, civil claims. See our compensation page >
• Does not regulate legacy tailings piles. Waste rock piles from the historical Thetford Mines and Val-des-Sources operations are addressed under separate provincial and federal rules.
• Does not eliminate exposure risk. Legacy asbestos will be a health issue in Canada for decades. The Canadian Cancer Society and Statistics Canada continue to report asbestos-related disease deaths annually, reflecting exposures that occurred years before the ban.

What the ban means if you own an older Canadian home

If your home was built or last renovated before the late 1980s, the federal ban does not change your situation. Materials that may contain asbestos remain undisturbed and, if left alone, present limited immediate risk. Risk arises when the material is cut, sanded, drilled, or removed without proper controls.

Practical implications:

• Before any renovation, test suspected materials. A PLM bulk sample costs $25-$50 at a CALA-accredited Canadian lab. See our asbestos testing guide.
• Do not sand or scrape old drywall joint compound, plaster, or popcorn ceilings in a pre-1990 home without testing first.
• Vermiculite attic insulation installed before the mid-1990s was frequently contaminated with amphibole asbestos. See our Zonolite guide.
• Popcorn (stipple/textured) ceilings installed before the mid-1980s may contain chrysotile. See our popcorn-ceiling guide.
• If removal is required, hire a licensed abatement contractor licensed under the provincial workplace-safety authority in your province.