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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 27, 2012 · 8 By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF My Bronte citizens worry about `stealth' towers Just how close can a cell tower be to your home? The answer may rest no farther than a neighbour's backyard. Members of the My Bronte citizens' group are calling on local, federal and provincial officials to pass legislation ensuring cell towers are not permitted to take root on residential properties. Concern about the possibility came when the group discovered that in other jurisdictions, particularly Québec, cell companies pay residential property owners in order to install cell towers on their land. Just this month the West Island Gazette reported Rogers Communications had installed a 15-metre cell tower in the backyard of a home in a Kirkland, Québec neighbourhood. The article quoted one area resident who said Rogers had contacted several homeowners about placing a tower on their property, offering a fee of about $200 per month. My Bronte member, Wendy Perkins said similar activities cannot be allowed in Oakville. "We urge all those in public office to work together at this critical time. Oakville must take a leadership role in preventing so-called `stealth' commercial cell towers from being erected with no notice on residential property," she said. OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO familiar sight: This cell tower at Bronte Road and Rebecca Street was used solely by local emergency services, but its use is being expanded. "It is very important we inform the people of Oakville not to be taken in by the offer of payment in return for contracting to have this potentially damaging health hazard to you and to your neighbours." Perkins said this is not an aesthetic issue, noting the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the radio frequency radiation, which comes from cell towers, as possibly carcinogenic. Perkins has also often cited a study conducted in Brazil in 2011, which found that people who lived near cell towers experienced a higher rate of mortality from cancer than those who lived more than 500 metres away from cell towers. Halton Region's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Bob Nosal, has said there is no convincing evidence weak radio frequency signals from cell towers cause adverse health effects. Nosal has also acknowledged the agreement between Health Canada, WHO, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer that additional research is warranted. When asked about the practice of paying residents to locate cell towers on their properties, a Rogers representative said the company does not typically look for residential sites. "Rogers makes every effort to accommodate the needs of local residents and is fully compliant with the standards and requirements outlined by Industry Canada and Health Canada to provide communications services that ensure safety and security for our communities," said LeighAnn Popek, senior media relations manager, Rogers Communications. "Tower sites are chosen very carefully based on numerous factors, including proximity to the area requiring service. We don't have cell towers on residential properties in the province, and we typically look for locations on public or commercial properties." Bell Canada representative Jason Laszlo said it is not company policy to establish cell towers on residential properties after working out an arrangement with the property owner. "No. Our approach is to select sites that best meet our coverage requirements based on customer demand," he said. "Of course, all our sites across Canada adhere See Town page 14 Friends of World Vision Presents A Fundraising Event for the Children of Montaña de Fe, El Salvador It Takes a Village $125 Tickets Rick Campanelli ET Canada Master of Ceremonies Susan Hay Global TV Keynote Speaker Suzie McNeil Recording Artist Performing PROUDLY SPONSORED BY Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Rattlesnake Point Golf Club, Milton, ON 6:30p.m. Registration Dress code is casual elegant To purchase tickets, please visit friendsofworldvision.com www.facebook.com/friendsofworldvision Gala Dinner and Auction Bronte Movers