EMR Health Alliance of BC

Veronica Gallacher has been keeping an eye on a cell tower application in Southfields for some time. And now that it’s built, she has concerns about the process that a leading expert in wireless radiation research said, is a, “deeply disturbing development.”

“When they were first proposing it, I called the Town (of Caledon) and they reassured me it was going to be safe, and they told me about Safety Code 6 and all of that,” said Gallacher. “But when you do your own research into that, and what more and more scientists are saying about it, you get concerned yourself. We have children.”

After reading about Wi-Fi radiation, 3, 4 and 5G technologies, her concerns grew.

But when the tower was built, and significantly different than the original application described, she had a new concern: Did the public even get told what was coming?

Dr. Magda Havas is an associate professor at Trent University and conducts research on the biological effects of non-ionizing frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum. She has been the science adviser to the Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain, has helped to write clean air legislation for the Canadian government, and resolution 15 for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), which states that the IAFF opposes the use of its stations as bases for cell towers. She has presented her research in more than 30 countries around the globe.

“Unfortunately, the people in your community are correct. 5G antennas will be placed on either shorter towers or on existing light poles, existing power line poles and will not require notification or approval from the community,” Havas said. “This is a deeply disturbing development as it means that these “small cell” antennas will be placed every 300 metres or so and will be right in front of homes and other buildings emitting what is being called “milli metre waves” (mmW) that have not been tested for their long-term health effects.”

Gallacher’s concern changed when she found out the application she had been following, had been fast tracked. The original application sign had referenced a development of three 12.5 metre poles.

However, only one was erected. And it struck Gallacher as odd. It looks like a simple light pole. Why would they settle for less?

As she began to research 5G, and the next wave of communication technology, she discovered that smaller poles are fine, and actually what it will need.

And if small poles can be ‘”fast tracked,” and the public left out of the process, will residents even know when 5G is coming, she wondered?

“When I spoke to someone at the town, I found out it was fast tracked. They read the whole thing out loud to me, and it’s based on esthetics. If it’s less than 25 metres in height, or a certain percentage of height of the building, it can be fast tracked.”

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada was sent questions on this story to find out how the fast track process works.

According to their website, and “Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Antenna Systems,” new antenna systems that are under 15 metres in height, ones that are modified for co-location where the increase in height does not surpass 25 per cent, antennas that are located on buildings, water towers, lamp posts and other structures can be excluded from public process requirements.

However, a 2014 response from their communications staff said the government of Canada strengthened its policy to require consultation regardless of height. However, they encourage municipalities to develop their own protocol.

Caledon’s Protocol for Establishing Telecommunications Facilities outlines a “fast track” policy in section 9, found here.

“Scientists are calling for a delay in deployment (of 5G) until proper testing can be conducted by independent scientists who have no financial connection with the telecom industry or military,” said Havas.

Gallacher would just like to be notified of what is happening in her community, and wants the town to create its own policy of notification, or for the federal government to change theirs.

“Believe what you want,” she said about the potential health effects. “We deserve to be notified.”