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MP Young puts cell tower meeting on hold By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A planned Friday meeting between Oakville MP Terence Young and Bell Mobility, which many residents hoped would result in the Bell antennas being removed from the Bronte Road/Rebecca Street cell tower, will not be taking place. Young announced the meeting was cancelled earlier this week when, he said, it became clear Bell had no intention of budging from their position. "They wanted to meet with me when they thought they could bring along Industry Canada and invite Health Canada and give some big long presentation about how it's all okay and they have a legal right to do it," said Young. "I said, `Don't even bother because Bronte residents are not buying into Safety Code 6 and they are not buying into Industry Canada's safety standards. They have legitimate health concerns and they want the antennas moved elsewhere.'" News about the meeting cancellation comes only a few weeks after residents and Ward 1 councillors organized a public information meeting, attended by approximately 200 people, in which the health concerns associated with cell towers were discussed. Residents have held two protests at the cell tower site since late December, when council voted to give Halton police a green light to enter into an agreement with Bell to co-locate on the Halton police tower. In exchange, Halton police will be able to use a Bell Mobility cell tower in Brookville, thereby avoiding tower rental fees of approximately $36,000 per year. 7 · Thursday, March 15, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com the tower is fully compliant with Safety Code 6, the Health Canada safety code, which limits how much radiofrequency energy a person can be exposed to. "I said, 'Don't even bother because Bronte residents are not buying into Safety Code 6 and they are not buying into Industry Canada's safety standards.'" Oakville MP Terence Young Emissions from the Bronte Road/Rebecca Street cell tower site, he said, would be 100 times below (calculated at 2 metres above the ground, as per the standard) the limit allowed in Safety Code 6. Chapman concluded his letter by stating that he is still willing to make himself and the broader Bell team available for a meeting with Young and other interested parties. BEAVER FILE PHOTO Young said Bell's decision to move ahead with their project despite resident opposition TOWERING: This week's public meeting to discuss the Bronte Road/Rebecca Street cell tower, above, stands in stark contrast to the actions of has been cancelled. MP Terence Young says residents have legitimate health concerns. Rogers Canada during a similar incident. Police said the arrangement is essential to "The exponential growth in demand for "When Rogers was proposing a cellular overhaul what Halton Police Chief Gary wireless broadband services requires Bell to tower near the sidewalk at Hopedale Mall, Crowell has described as Halton's failing continually upgrade our network to meet local residents opposed it. I met with them emergency radio system. coverage and capacity requirements. The site (Rogers) and as a matter of good corporate The commercialization of the tower is not in question, co-located at the Bronte Fire sta- citizenship and goodwill, Rogers agreed to sitting well with many area residents, who tion, is one of many that Bell has installed to look for another location for the tower," said had no issues with the tower being used solely meet demand in this area," wrote Chapman. Young. for emergency response communications. "With this site, Bell is confident that resi"Bell is doing the exact opposite with this In a letter to Young, Bell Mobility vice- dents and businesses, as well as community, facility down in Bronte." president of regulatory affairs Barry Chapman public and safety services will be better Young added that because the tower is on stated Bell would be proceeding with its plans served." Town land he has no authority to block what for the cell tower and outlined Bell's position Chapman also talked about the health Bell is doing and called on the Town to on the matter. concerns surrounding the cell tower, stating revisit the issue and withdraw the approval. Burlington FLOOR MODEL SALE % 50 UP TO OFF UNTIL MARCH 31ST THOMASVILLE BURLINGTON 2269 Fairview Street, Burlington Ph. 905-631-6000 SPECIAL FINANCING AVAILABLE Please see store for full details