VICTORIA BC ASPHALT COMPANY ALLOWED TO POISON HUNDREDS FOR 'ROAD IMPROVEMENTS'
Yes, if you happen to live in the wrong place... you can be legally poisoned because a company is making more asphalt than it can perhaps safely handle. The asphalt is seemingly for government contracts for local road and highway work. This toxic cloud has not been a problem before, but it has suddenly become a big problem now — for some seemingly unknown reason. Asphalt fumes are toxic. (And of course, people working with asphalt are continuously exposed to the fumes as well.)
(July 20, 2025): Hundreds of people are being poisoned by an asphalt plant near downtown Victoria, which is working day and night to provide materials for a couple of government road projects. This has been going on for weeks now, with no relief in sight.
The information here is based on a couple of stories in our local media. And although this has been happening for weeks, I only heard about it yesterday — so it is not getting much media coverage.
People are unable to sleep. They are suffering nausea from the toxins in the asphalt, as well as respiratory problems and other health issues. And yet — it's just "ho-hum" from the government. They want that asphalt and need it for road work, so you're getting poisoned. Sorry about that... and please go away.
The asphalt company says it is aware of the complaints... but the poisoning will continue for a couple more months.
And I’m not only faulting the company here — I am faulting our NDP government, which is directly involved with the roads this asphalt is for.
And where are our Public Health Officials?
People are being poisoned, but our public health officials can't be bothered? Apparently, it’s okay to poison people as long as it’s for roads and profit. Can’t stand in the way of "progress."
Who Pays the Price?
The people who happen to live near the asphalt plant are the ones paying the price for these road improvements. They’re being poisoned.
But there is an alternative.
The government should put affected residents up in hotels or government buildings — and take additional measures to protect them.
When the work is done, the government may have to detoxify their homes if toxins have accumulated indoors.
And those costs should be added to the cost of the roads — because then we would see the real cost of building roads.
Instead, the industry is allowed to poison people for free, and the victims are left to suffer. That is exactly how the people who run our society treat us.
If you get in their way — too bad for you.
Because roads are important, and you’re not.
It’s completely wrong, in my opinion — just another example of how oil, cars, and roads are valued above human beings by those in power.
This Problem Has Never Been Here Before
According to residents, this poisoning problem has never happened before.
Yet according to the company, nothing has changed. Which is strange.
Reportedly, for hundreds of people, the smell starts around 7:00 PM and lasts until 5:00 or 6:00 the next morning. Black smoke can be seen coming from the plant.
One person said:
“The fumes permeate the house even if we close all doors and windows, turn on all exhaust fans, and run air filters.”
Her partner — who already has disabilities — is experiencing stomach pains, headaches, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, even after buying a respirator.
This couple now drives around at night to escape the poison and is becoming severely sleep-deprived.
They would stay in a hotel, but they can’t afford it.
I will contact our local public health officials here in Victoria tomorrow to see if they intend to do anything — or if they will just let the poisoning continue.
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/hazards-exposures/asphalt
