City Council is Back! Updates and Awareness Regarding Asbestos in Weyburn

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News Summary

Weyburn City Council resumes meetings and highlights the importance of asbestos awareness in public buildings, affecting tenant health and safety.

City Council is Back! Updates and Awareness Regarding Asbestos in Weyburn

The City Council of Weyburn has resumed its bi-weekly meetings on every 2nd Monday of the month, coinciding with the ongoing waste collection efforts running until March 28. In an effort to enhance community awareness, the recent Asbestos Awareness Week has concluded,’shining a light on the presence of asbestos in buildings not only globally, but also within Weyburn’s boundaries.

Understanding Asbestos in Weyburn

Despite the fact that asbestos has not been used in construction for decades, it continues to be a lurking issue within existing structures. The Provincial Asbestos Registry serves as a critical resource, cataloging all publicly owned buildings in Saskatchewan that contain or may contain asbestos. Alarmingly, there are currently 73 buildings in Weyburn listed on this registry, with a whopping 59 of them being homes owned by the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC).

This situation raises significant concerns as tenants residing in these SHC properties have not been duly informed about the presence of asbestos, even though existing legislation demands public awareness on such matters. Specifically, Howard’s Law, enacted in 2013, mandates the identification and reporting of materials containing asbestos in public sector buildings within Saskatchewan.

Accountability and the Adverse Effects of Asbestos

Public sector employers, including the SHC, have the obligation to ensure that information regarding asbestos is accessible to the public. However, slips in responsibility have led to frustrations among tenants. While the SHC claims to depend on the public registry for communicating this information, the lack of proactive engagement lacks alignment with the intent of Howard’s Law.

Critics argue that this passive disclosure model does not ultimately safeguard tenant health or uphold the principles of informed consent. Asbestos, known for its fibrous composition, poses severe health risks, including asbestosis and lung cancer, especially when disturbed through renovations or alterations in homes.

Public Concerns and Current Practices

While it is acknowledged that undisturbed asbestos does not inherently pose a health risk, the protocol dictates that tenants are not allowed to make changes to their rental units. This means that when renovations are needed, such as flooring replacements or unit turnovers, the SHC conducts necessary testing and abatement measures. However, the inadequacy of communications concerning these policies has left some residents feeling in the dark.

Plans to improve education for tenants regarding asbestos presence are underway, but an official timeline for these notifications remains undisclosed. The recent Global Asbestos Awareness Week brought attention from government officials, reiterating the importance of the asbestos registry, which lists over 5,200 buildings across the province, including 43 situated in Estevan.

Historical Context: Souris Valley Hospital

In a historical context, Weyburn was home to the Souris Valley Hospital, originally known as the Weyburn Mental Hospital, which opened in 1921 and closed in 1971. This facility, once the largest building in the Commonwealth, was transferred to the town in 2005 after years of neglect. The estimated cost to restore the heating system alone was around $1.5 million, with the anticipated total renovation costs exceeding $50 million.

The demolition of the hospital, which commenced in May, was awarded on a contract valued at $4.75 million to the Demco Decommissioning & Environmental Management Company. As part of this demolition, asbestos removal was conducted, facing challenges primarily due to cold winter temperatures. Efforts were made to recycle approximately 95% of the building materials, while historical artifacts, including a mural representing the Regina Riot, were salvaged for community museums.

Looking Ahead

As the situation continues to develop, Southeast College is also revising plans due to a projected $6 million reduction in its budget for post-secondary education in the upcoming fiscal year. This budget reduction reflects a 5% decrease in operating funding and is expected to heavily affect the programming dollars available for certain courses.

As the City Council in Weyburn addresses these concerns regarding asbestos awareness and related updates, it pushes for greater transparency—an ongoing endeavor that is crucial for ensuring community health and safety