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DEPOSITIONS PRESENTED TO NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL
September 13th, 2007
   After the abrupt closure of a previous coucil meeting, on June 27th, to address concerns about the Rogers cellular    transmitters on top of the Union Street water tower, a special council meeting was convened on September 13th and    the citizens of Simcoe were finally able to present their case.
Read what wasn't published in any of the newspapers
Read depositions...


NEWS AND COMMENTARY
SIMCOE CELLPHONE TOWER TO BE MOVED; NEIGHBOURS COMPLAIN OF ILLNESS
By: Cheryl Bauslaugh. www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
   Local News - Norfolk councillors have decided to get rid of a cellphone tower in the centre of Simcoe that residents    say is a health risk.
Read Story...

DOCTORS WEIGH IN ON CELL TOWER DISPUTE
Rogers transmitter downtown back on the agenda at Norfolk council

By: Monte Sonnenberg www.simcoereformer.ca
Friday April 20, 2007
   Cellphone transmitters are back on the front burner now that 11 local doctors have weighed in on the dispute.
Read Story...

NORFOLK DOCTORS WANT CELL TOWER MOVED
By Cheryl Bauslaugh, www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
   Local News Area doctors are asking Norfolk Council to have another try at removing Rogers Wireless equipment from    the Simcoe water tower.
Read Story...

Council erupts
MEETING DISSOLVES as OPP called in

Kate Schwass www.simcoereformer.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
   No need to wait until Canada Day for fireworks - there were lots last night at Norfolk County council.
Read Story...

NORFOLK MAYER PULLS PLUG ON MEETING
Cheryl Bauslaugh www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
   Local News - Opponents of the Simcoe cell tower were outraged Tuesday, after Norfolk County Mayor Dennis Travale    abruptly cancelled a council meeting before they had a chance to speak.
Read Story...

From: Magda Havas
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Subject: Cell Phone Antennas in Simcoe
   Cell phone antennas on a water tower in Simcoe Ontario has been a thorn in the side of residences who believe their    illlnesses are associated with the radio frequencies from these antennas. Readings in the backyard of one residence    are well over 0.2 microW/cm2 and exceed the recommended Salzburg guideline of 0.1 microW/cm2 but are within    Health Canada's guideline of 1000 microW/cm2.
Read Story...

From: Anca Gaston
To: Jim Oliver (Councilor for Norfolk County)
Sent: June 29, 2007
Subject: Democracy Failing in Norfolk County, Ontario
   Dear Councillor Oliver,
   I write in response to Mayor Travale's accusations and comments made on Tuesday, June 26th on the issue of the    Union St. Simcoe cell phone tower. I was one of the individuals on the deputation list. Since neither the deputees nor    the councillors were allowed to respond at the council meeting, please allow me to offer this rebuttal in the form of    an email.
Read Story...

NO BUDGING ON CELL TOWER; ROGERS STICKING TO POLICY THAT IT WON'T MOVE ONE FROM SIMCOE WATER TOWER
By Cheryl Bauslaugh www.brantfordexpositor.ca
September 13, 2007
   Brant MP Lloyd St. Amand said he's "not surprised" by the ongoing refusal of Rogers Wireless to remove cell antennas    from the Simcoe water tower.
Read Story...


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SIMCOE CELLPHONE TOWER TO BE MOVED; NEIGHBOURS COMPLAIN OF ILLNESS
Cheryl Bauslaugh
www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Local News - Norfolk councillors have decided to get rid of a cellphone tower in the centre of Simcoe that residents say is a health risk.
After hearing from more than 20 people in an often emotional five-hour debate Tuesday, council voted to move recently installed Rogers Wireless Inc. antennae on the Simcoe water tower - even though it could cost the county an estimated $300,000.
“I’m proud to be a resident of Norfolk County,” said Dan Currie, who first raised the issue in February, shortly after the antennae were installed.
“Council was receptive and concerned about the welfare of its citizens,” said Currie, who has been unable to live in his century home on Union Street because of symptoms such as nausea, headaches, fatigue and dizziness that he says are caused by the cell tower.
“I was fine before the antennae went up and I’m fine when I’m not at home,” he told council.
Students in the senior law class at Simcoe Composite School did a survey of residents in the area - which is close to Elgin Avenue School and Norfolk General Hospital - and discovered several more residents with similar symptoms.
To date, 17 people have reported recurring illnesses since the cell tower was installed.
Read more... No evidence
Staff said there’s no conclusive evidence linking radio frequency waves with illness. And they noted that the cell tower meets federal health and safety regulations in regard to exposure levels.
But Mayor Rita Kalmbach said she’d rather err on the side of caution when it comes to people’s health.
“When I hear people say they only get sick at home, when they’re close to the tower, I have to believe there’s something to this,” she said.
“I believe we have to do what is right and good. But it is going to cost all the people of Norfolk County considerable money.”
Just how much money isn’t clear. When Kalmbach asked a Rogers representative about the possibility of getting out of the lease before the March 31, 2008, expiry date, Jack Hills said that will be up to the company’s lawyers to decide.
He was also non-committal about the possibility that Rogers might voluntarily move its cell tower to another site.
“It’s not our policy,” he said, adding that the tower is operating within guidelines set by Health Canada and Industry Canada.
“The alleged fear can be mitigated by the guidelines.”
Hills also noted that Rogers has many other telecommunications towers that are close to hospitals and schools. Some, in fact, are on top of schools.
However, Magna Havas, an environmental scientist at Trent University, told council that Canada’s guidelines aren’t as stringent as those in other countries. She cited studies that show an increased risk of cancer, as well as symptoms such as headaches, insomnia and nausea, when people live within 400 metres of a cell tower.
“I think there’s enough evidence to cause a concern. I recommend not allowing antennae within 400 metres of schools, homes or buildings where people work.”
Havas said she is particularly concerned about the risk to students at Elgin because children are more vulnerable to developing cancer than adults.
Council directed staff to begin negotiating a way out of the lease agreement as soon as possible. County manager Bill Allcock said that process will begin this week but he’s not sure how long it will take before the cell tower finds a new home - or what the cost will be to taxpayers. He said Rogers will have to find an alternate location before the antennae can be removed.
Coun. Roger Geysens voted in favour of moving the cell tower but he warned that this might be the start of similar requests from other county residents who live near cell towers.
“I certainly don’t want to put children at risk but there’s not very many places in Norfolk County where you’re not gong to be within 400 metres of some residents.
“I think we’re asking for some very difficult times.”
ID- 62763

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DOCTORS WEIGH IN ON CELL TOWER DISPUTE
Rogers transmitter downtown back on the agenda at Norfolk council

By: Monte Sonnenberg SIMCOE REFORMER
Friday April 20, 2007

Cellphone transmitters are back on the front burner now that 11 local doctors have weighed in on the dispute.
In a letter to Norfolk council dated April 2, the doctors ask Norfolk to redouble its efforts to relocate a cellphone antenna on the water tower beside Elgin Avenue Public School in Simcoe. The antenna belongs to Rogers Communications, which has entered into a long-term agreement with the county to broadcast from the tower.
"There is an increasing body of evidence linking the radio frequency radiation emitted from cellphone towers to serious health effects including cancers and childhood leukemia," the letter says.
"These studies further state that more research needs to be done to fully understand the health consequences of this type of technology and to use the precautionary principle of not locating cellphone towers near schools, hospitals or in residential areas."
Dr. Jeff Tschirhart of Simcoe, Haldimand and Norfolk’s former acting medical officer of health, circulated the letter to his colleagues for their endorsement. Other signatories include Dr. William Wynveen, Dr. Don Williamson, Dr. Peter Nagrani, Dr. Brad Bobby, Dr. Mark Ghesquiere, Dr. Gary Soenen, Dr. Anna Trzciewiecki - all of Simcoe - and Dr. Harold Hynscht of Port Dover and Dr. Mark Miller.
"It is impossible at this time to feel comfortable knowing a cellphone tower is located near an elementary school," the letter says. "The levels of exposure (to electromagnetic waves) on a daily basis for these young people are not consistent with prudent health policy at this time. Action is required to minimize or eliminate the potential risks. Simply put, the tower must be moved away from school children where health and immune systems may be less resistant than an adult’s."

Yesterday, Wynveen said his colleagues are not asserting that cellphone transmitters are unsafe. Rather, they are concerned that there is no definitive proof that they are benign.
Wynveen cited a report this week which suggests microwave energy from cellphone transmitters may be a factor in the mysterious collapse of honeybee colonies across the United States. Until questions like these and others are answered, Wynveen said extreme care should be taken with the deployment of this technology.
The letter will be tabled at next Tuesday’s meeting of Norfolk council. As of yesterday, three people had asked to speak about the issue as deputations.
Residents in the area of Elgin Avenue Public School lobbied intensively for the removal of the Rogers transmitter last year. Norfolk public works entered negotiations with Rogers for the termination of the lease. Rogers has refused to budge, saying the tower complies with Health Canada standards for microwave transmitters. During an in-camera session Oct. 24, council directed public works staff to terminate negotiations with the broadcaster.
During last year’s deliberations, a Health Canada doctor assured Norfolk council that the Rogers tower was not a threat to human health. Also last year, Dr. Tschirhart, in his capacity as acting MOH, refused in a letter to be drawn in to the debate.
"Typically, if there are extraordinary health issues in a community, the local physicians would contact the health unit if they suspected environmental conditions that were adversely affecting their patients," Tschirhart said in his letter last summer. "The Ministry of Health, through their data collection from various sources, also identify spikes in conditions that they investigate. To date, we have received no such reports from any physician or the Ministry of Health."
Tschirhart did not return a phone call by press time yesterday. Also unavailable was Dr. Malcolm Lock, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk’s Medical Officer of Health.
Monte Sonnenberg
519-426-3528 ext. 150
msonnenberg@bowesnet.com


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NORFOLK DOCTORS WANT CELL TOWER MOVED
By Cheryl Bauslaugh, Expositor Staff
Local News
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Area doctors are asking Norfolk Council to have another try at removing Rogers Wireless equipment from the Simcoe water tower.
Council abandoned its efforts to have the equipment relocated last October, after finding out that it would cost at least $316,000 to get out of a long-term lease with Rogers. But a letter from 11 local physicians urges councillors to reopen negotiations with Rogers and have the equipment moved to a “more responsible” location.
“There is an increasing body of evidence linking the radio frequency radiation emitted from cellphone towers to serious health effects, including cancers and childhood leukemia,” says the letter, dated April 2.
“It is impossible at this time to feel comfortable knowing a cellphone tower is located near an elementary school. The levels of exposure on a daily basis for these young people are not consistent with prudent health policy at this time. Action is required to minimize or eliminate the potential risks. Simply put, the tower must be moved away from school children where health and immune systems may be less resistant than an adult’s.”
The letter is signed by Dr. Jeff Tschirhart, former acting medical officer of health for Norfolk, and 10 other doctors in Simcoe, Port Dover and Jarvis.
About 20 people living near the tower, which is close to Elgin Avenue School and Norfolk General Hospital, have complained about symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and headaches since the Rogers antenna was installed last February.
Hardest hit is Dan Currie, who is unable to live in his home, located just below the tower. Currie will be one of several people appearing at tonight’s council session to ask politicians to revisit the issue.
Also throwing his support behind Currie and his neighbours is Brant MP Lloyd St. Amand. He has contacted Industry Canada, which regulates telecommunication towers, asking them to intervene in the situation.
St. Amand acknowledged that the Simcoe tower is meeting Health Canada safety standards. But, like the physicians, he believes more study is needed to rule out a possible health risk.
“I have asked Industry Canada to check and recheck that our standards are not falling behind other jurisdictions,” St. Amand said on Monday. He said many European countries have banned cellphone towers in locations that are close to schools and houses.
“Maybe our standards are substandard, compared to other jurisdictions,” he said. “Let’s have a real careful look at this.”

View Letter from Norfolk Doctors

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Council erupts
MEETING DISSOLVES as OPP called in

Kate Schwass
http://www.simcoereformer.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

No need to wait until Canada Day for fireworks - there were lots last night at Norfolk County council.
Emotions regarding the cellphone antenna on the Union Street water tower boiled over, prompting Mayor Dennis Travale to abruptly end the meeting as Norfolk OPP were called into the council chambers.
About 70 people were in the gallery and 20 of those ready to give deputations on the cellphone tower issue when council came to that item on the agenda around 7:45 p.m. But before the public was allowed to speak, Travale took about 15 minutes to lay some ground rules and explain what would and would not be admissible information.
It was an emotional speech for the mayor, who had to stop part way through to compose himself after addressing the issue of cancer and cellphone towers.
"I know how devastating and worrying such a diagnosis can be and the last thing anyone wants is some rogue running through the neighbourhood" suggesting the tower has caused cancer in local residents, he said.
He said the council wants scientific proof, "not some mumbo jumbo taken off the Internet."
People in the gallery scoffed and began talking after that comment but Travale was quick to regain order.
"If you can’t behave, you can leave," he warned, banging his gavel.
"Running around claiming the children are at risk, that it’s causing cancer . . . that the sky is falling is fearmongering," he then continued. "Council will not make an emotional decision on this or any other issue."
As the deputations were set to begin leading off with Geoff Saldanha, Elgin Avenue resident Keith Simpson approached the podium. Travale banged his gavel and asked Simpson to sit down as he had not yet been recognized by council (Simpson was No. 17 on the list of delegations) but Simpson remained at the podium, trying at times to speak over Travale.
"I am appalled by this council. We have just been given a lecture and dressing down," Simpson said between gavel bangs.
Travale recessed the meeting and members of council left the chamber. Travale said the meeting would reconvene once Simpson had returned to his seat.
After about five minutes of talking at the podium, Simpson did take his seat and councillors and Norfolk County staff members began returning to the chamber.

As Travale approached his seat, Simpson again stood and took the podium.
"You are not recognized," Travale said, again banging the gavel. "Sit down."
Simpson again refused to sit down, saying he wanted to address Travale’s speech prior to the delegations and ask a procedural question.
"Clear the chamber or we will call the police," Travale said before banging the gavel and again walking out of the chamber followed by some members of council.
A few minutes later County Manager Bill Allcock told the group the meeting was over.
Councillor John Wells attempted to reason with angry citizens.
"We were quite prepared to listen," Wells said. "All the mayor asked was would Mr. Simpson sit down . . . The procedure is simple. You cannot speak in this chamber until you are recognized by the mayor."
Wells added a few minutes later, "Council is finished for this evening."
Allcock told the Reformer a decision will need to be made by the mayor and members of council on how best to proceed.
Last night’s meeting was never officially closed.
Those still wanting to discuss the cellphone tower issue last night remained in the chambers for well over an hour after Mayor Travale left the building with a Norfolk OPP officer looking on.
Dr. Magda Havas was prepared to present new health information about cellphone towers to council last night and was disappointed with how things turned out.
"I was stunned by his lack of professionalism. I’m in a bit of a state of shock," Havas said. "He does not have the emotional control."
She said she would consider coming back to a future meeting to discuss the issue, but "I honestly don’t think (residents will) get a fair hearing."
Resident Danielle Pender lives 125 metres from the water tower and wanted to present an e-mail she received from Travale when he was a candidate for mayor. The e-mail from Travale, dated Oct. 25 at 8:10 a.m. said he had "great sympathy" for their situation.
"It is my position that this situation is a prime example where the ‘precautionary principle’ could and should be used," he wrote.
Pender said she felt "disgust" over what happened in the council chambers and wanted to know between that e-mail and now, "what’s changed?"
Councillor Charlie Luke chatted with concerned citizens, but said he couldn’t explain why the mayor had walked out or what caused it.
"In six and a half months, I have not seem him operate that way," Luke said. "Somebody got to him."
Resident George Furry said despite the meeting ending quickly, there are likely more fireworks on the way because this issue isn’t going away.
"Anyone who thinks they’re affected should appear at town council," he said.
A call and e-mail to Mayor Travale last night by the Reformer were not returned.

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NORFOLK MAYER PULLS PLUG ON MEETING
Cheryl Bauslaugh
www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Local News - Opponents of the Simcoe cell tower were outraged Tuesday, after Norfolk County Mayor Dennis Travale abruptly cancelled a council meeting before they had a chance to speak.
"This is so disappointing, that it had to come to this," said Geoff Saldanha, one of 20 scheduled speakers on the cell tower issue. "What would have been an important meeting, with a lot of good information, was stopped, because of procedure."
Travale started the meeting by warning presenters that he would only listen to new information on the issue. Residents have raised concerns about possible health risks since Rogers Wireless equipment was installed on the Simcoe water tower last year.
The mayor also criticized the lack of scientific evidence provided to council and said it was "fear mongering" to link neighbourhood cases of cancer to the cell tower.
"It's an ill-advised attempt to incite panic, like yelling fire in a darkened theatre," said Travale. "I know how devastating such a diagnosis can be."
When Keith Simpson, one of the scheduled speakers, attempted to respond, Travale ordered him to sit down. Simpson, a Simcoe lawyer, continued to press his point and Travale left the council chamber.
The mayor returned minutes later and again ordered Simpson to sit down. When Simpson continued to speak, Travale declared the meeting over and exited the building.
A call to his home was answered by his wife, Barb, who said Travale would have no comment to make that evening.
Simpson said he was "appalled" at Travale's behaviour. "We just received a dressing down and then, we were not given an opportunity to respond."
Kelly Currie, whose husband, Dan, has symptoms so severe that he is unable to live in the family home - located just below the tower - was close to tears at the sudden turn of events.
"It's extremely upsetting," she said. "We had new medical information to present."
Dan Currie first raised a red flag about the cell equipment more than a year ago, after he began suffering severe headaches, dizziness and loss of memory whenever he was near his Union Street home. Doctors at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital recently diagnosed him as being sensitive to electromagnetic fields.
Currie said he was offended by the mayor's comments and dismayed by the meeting's cancellation.
"Democracy was denied tonight," he said. "The mayor took shots at me liberally, without allowing anyone to respond."
Coun. Charlie Luke said he's never seen a meeting cancelled over procedure in his almost 28 years as a municipal representative. He's hoping the session will be rescheduled soon.
"I hope everything will cool down so that we can get back to business."
Just when that will happen is up in the air.
County manager Bill Allcock said the clerk must provide 48 hours notice before scheduling a meeting. That means it would be Friday morning, at the earliest, before a makeup session could be held.
The cell tower issue wasn't the only one on council's agenda Tuesday night.
The final tax rates for this year were scheduled to be passed. Allcock said that has to be done by the end of this week, so that tax bills can be sent out.
He also suggested that council may decide to hold a special council session to deal with the cell tower issue.

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From: Magda Havas
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Subject: Cell Phone Antennas in Simcoe

Cell phone antennas on a water tower in Simcoe Ontario has been a thorn in the side of residences who believe their illlnesses are associated with the radio frequencies from these antennas. Readings in the backyard of one residence are well over 0.2 microW/cm2 and exceed the recommended Salzburg guideline of 0.1 microW/cm2 but are within Health Canada's guideline of 1000 microW/cm2.

Last year citizens presented their case to Norfolk County Council who then voted to have the antennas moved to a different location. The move never took place, in part, because of the cost associated with the move.

Since then new Councillors have been elected and the citizens wanted to presented new information but the meeting ended rather abruptly. Read the articles below.

The entire session was televised live and when the Mayor left the Chambers the cameras stopped rolling. Citizens stayed to discuss what had just happened and the police were called in to clear the Chamber. Fortunately they were smart enough to allow the emotions to subside naturally. Eventually people began to leave. One Councillor, Charlie Luke, stayed behind to talk with the people who remained and he was as stunned with what happened as were the rest of us.

What I found most disturbing, in addition to the Mayor's emotional outbreak, his desire to silence people about the health concerns, and his defamatory remarks about specific individuals in the community, was his obvious lack of understanding about science and the scientific process.

So often we have people in positions of authority who are unable to grasp the science behind the decisions they need to make. This is a serious concern in this case but it is also a serious concern at hearings with judges presiding who can't understand the information scientists are providing them. Since the information needs to be detailed and it comes from scientists who have different perspectives how can judges, jurors and others make "informed" decisions? It is analogous to presenting information in a foreign language and expecting to have a fair hearing.

Magda Havas, B.Sc., Ph.D.
Environmental & Resource Studies
Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.


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From: Anca Gaston
To: Jim Oliver (Councilor for Norfolk County)
Sent: June 29, 2007
Subject: Democracy Failing in Norfolk County, Ontario

Dear Councillor Oliver,

I write in response to Mayor Travale's accusations and comments made on Tuesday, June 26th on the issue of the Union St. Simcoe cell phone tower. I was one of the individuals on the deputation list. Since neither the deputees nor the councillors were allowed to respond at the council meeting, please allow me to offer this rebuttal in the form of an email.
The Mayor made several erroneous statements as well as contradicted himself several times. I will be addressing several of his points in a numbered fashion:
1. The Mayor held up a brochure issued by Industry Canada that deals with "Frequently Asked Questions" and asked audience members whether the "people knocking on their doors" were giving them this pamphlet. He explained that this brochure is an invaluable resource that each one of us should read.
a. We are all indeed familiar with this brochure, and unfortunately, it appears that the Mayor himself did not read it. In it, the following two questions and answers appear:

What should I do if I am concerned about a proposed tower in my community?
Industry Canada recognizes that the local community may have concerns about the location of a radiocommunication tower. As a result, the Department requires proponents of significant antenna structures to consult with municipal land-use authorities.
If you have concerns about a proposed tower in your community, you may wish to make your views known to your local municipal officials. Local concerns can be taken into consideration during the consultation process with the proponent of the radiocommunication facility.

What does Industry Canada expect from the consultation process?
The consultation process ensures that local municipal land-use authorities have the opportunity to influence the location of radiocommunication antenna structures. Industry Canada expects that all involved parties will examine the proposal, consider each other's concerns and attempt to arrive at alternative solutions that do not unduly restrict the antenna structure. The consultation process attempts to resolve concerns at the local level.
Notice that the brochure advocates community consultation, saying that "local concerns can be taken into consideration during the consultation process". No consultation took place with respect to the Union St. Water tower cell tower, no citizen was notified, and our views were not taken into consideration. This goes against Industry Canada's very own suggestions.

2. The Mayor called one individual a "rogue" running through the neighbourhood and accused him/her of "fear-mongering" and of telling neighbours that the cell tower causes cancer. He further stated that no science exists linking cell towers to cancer and that claiming such is akin to "yelling fire in a darkened room", a phrase which he plagiarized from Monte Sonnenburg's Simcoe Reformer editorial dated June 2006..
a. In response to the comment about the "rogue", I am personally acquainted with this individual and I can assure you that running through the neighbourhood and scaring citizens was the last thing he did. Rather, neighbours sought this person out, and, volunteered information about their illness on their own. In fact, 71 people in total approached us and complained that they have experienced symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, etc. since the cell tower went up.
b. The Mayor's comments about no science existing that links cell towers to cancer makes it obvious that he did not even open the binder which he and each councillor were provided with. In it, he would have found several peer-reviewed and published studies that found an increased incidence of cancer in people living near cell phone antennas. Among these was a review of 220 studies (done by the independent research firm ECOLOG Institute) and sponsored by T-mobile, a cell phone giant. This report concludes: "Given the results of the present epidemiological studies, it can be concluded that electromagnetic fields with frequencies in the mobile telecommunications range do play a role in the development of cancer" (p.33)
3. The Mayor referred to the science that those concerned about the cell tower were presenting as "mumbo-jumbo from the internet"
a. This again merely illustrates that he did not even look at the binder that was provided. Had he opened it, he would have found a study which found a four-fold increase in cancer in people living near cell phone base stations (Wolf & Wolf, 2004). This study was published in the International Journal of Cancer Prevention, Vol 1, No 2, April 2004. Every study provided had been published in a peer-reviewed, internationally recognized journal and is available at any university library. These studies are difficult to find on the internet and usually require a subscription to a university library. I was able to obtain them because I am currently a Teaching Assistant and Course Co-ordinator at Brock University.
4. The Mayor personally insulted and defamed Dan Currie. He accused Mr. Currie of being sick only in the presence of the Union St. water tower. He also suggested that perhaps something else – a chemical used in the renovations, something in the house – might be making Mr. Currie sick.
a. This is inaccurate. Mr. Currie has been diagnosed as electrosensitive by specialists in the field of electrical hypersensitivity at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto. This is a condition that is afflicting more and more people all the time. Mr. Currie is sensitive to ALL cell towers, not just the one on Union St. Mr. Currie has experienced sickness in other communities, in stores, whenever he is in the presence of a cell phone transmitter.
b. Since Mr. Currie becomes sick in the presence of other cell towers as well, it is obviously not the renovations that are causing his symptoms. In addition, Mr. Currie becomes sick without even entering his house, therefore it is nothing inside the house.
c. His symptoms are consistent with those of people all over the world who are being diagnosed as suffering from 'electromagnetic hypersensitivity". In Sweden, this condition is a nationally recognized disability and provisions are made to allow these individuals to work in safe environments. Dr. David Fancy, a professor at Brock University, is among those afflicted, and was scheduled to give a deputation on Tuesday. Brock University has made provisions for him to teach off-campus given the presence of cell antennas on the Brock campus.
5. The Mayor mentioned several times that only "new information" shall be presented and anything else will not be tolerated.
a. The council before which we were presenting has several new councillors as well as a new Mayor. Do these new councillors not deserve to have the same background information as the others? In fact, these new councillors personally welcomed and requested this information. I am also curious as to whether Mr. Travale himself attended last year's council meeting held on June 6, 2006 . If he did not, how can he justify preventing any overlap of material? Even more absurd – how can he even identify overlap of material?
6. In reference to the letter signed by 11 doctors and to Dr. Tschirhart, the Mayor made several comments. He made reference to the fact that the letter was not written by them and almost insinuated that they were somehow forced into signing it. He then concluded by "selectively" reading part of another letter from Tschirhart which said that further studies are needed.
a. Does the Mayor believe that these 11 medical professionals would sign their name to a letter whose contents they did not agree with? One only knows that within the professional community it is customary for busy individuals to request others draft letters that they then sign.
b. Since Dr. Tschirhart recommends further studies be conducted, is Mr. Travale recommending that the citizens living in the vicinity of the cell phone tower be the subjects of this experiment?
Thank you for your time and I eagerly await your response.
Sincerely,
Anca Gaston
Read further correspondence...

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NO BUDGING ON CELL TOWER; ROGERS STICKING TO POLICY THAT IT WON'T MOVE ONE FROM SIMCOE WATER TOWER
By Cheryl Bauslaugh
www.brantfordexpositor.ca
September 13, 2007

Brant MP Lloyd St. Amand said he's "not surprised" by the ongoing refusal of Rogers Wireless to remove cell antennas from the Simcoe water tower.
St. Amand sent a letter to Rogers president Ted Rogers on Aug. 10, asking for the removal of the equipment, which has raised health concerns among nearby residents.
A letter from Kenneth Engelhart, vice-president regulatory for Rogers , makes it clear that's not going to happen - unless Norfolk Council is willing to foot the bill to relocate the equipment.
"It is not Rogers Wireless' policy to move or change wireless installations that are in compliance with both Industry Canada and Health Canada regulations," said the letter, dated Aug. 23.
Engelhart acknowledged that cell equipment was moved from one location to another at the University of Guelph - at the university's cost.
"As you are no doubt aware, Rogers Wireless discussed a similar proposal to relocate the Simcoe site in question. However, Norfolk Council determined, based on the evidence, that it would not pay for the cost of acquiring an acceptable alternative site and for the full cost of relocating the equipment to the new location."
Council abandoned efforts to relocate the equipment last year, after finding out if would cost at least $316,000 - and possibly as much as $1 million - to get out of a long-term lease with Rogers.
council meeting tonight
More than 70 people living close to the Union Street tower have complained about symptoms such as nausea, headaches and dizziness since the Rogers equipment was installed last February. One resident, Dan Currie, is unable to live in his home because his symptoms are so severe.
"I think there is a problem," St. Amand said Wednesday.
He notes that Canadian health and safety standards for cell towers are less stringent than many European countries, which do not allow towers within close proximity to schools or hospitals.
Ron Beckett, who lives one street away from the Simcoe tower, said Norfolk Council has an obligation to err on the side of caution and move the cell equipment, regardless of the cost.
"They signed the lease and it's their citizens who are suffering," he said.
Beckett is one of 15 people who will be making presentations about the cell tower at a special council meeting tonight. The meeting was set up to replace a June 26 council session that was abruptly cancelled when Mayor Dennis Travale clashed with one of the speakers over procedure.
Beckett's hoping council will be persuaded to re-open negotiations with Rogers and get out of the lease.
"The cost is probably not as great as they told us it was," he said. "But it's a small cost, in comparison to people's lives."

To be continued...