TSAWWASSEN
RESIDENTS AGAINST HIGHER VOLTAGE OVERHEAD LINES
March 9, 2005
BC Government
Urged to Follow Ontario’s Lead in Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement
Project
Tsawwassen Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead Lines (TRAHVOL) got a big boost following an announcement in the Ontario legislature yesterday that HydroOne has withdrawn it’s application to upgrade its transmission line in Markham. Residents have been involved in a ten-month struggle against HydroOne’s proposal to install new higher voltage overhead transmission lines through high-density residential areas. Tony Wong, MPP for Markham announced in the house “My constituents are entitled to know that their community’s energy needs will be met without having to sacrifice their health or that of their children or their environmental safety.”
The Ontario Ministers of Energy and Environment were praised by Municipal Government officials for listening to the municipalities’ and public’s concerns about Hydro’s plans, and taking appropriate action. “This is just a great outcome,” said Major Don Cousens. The government could have ignored us and let HydroOne do whatever it wanted. Instead they listened and took appropriate action.” HydroOne will now look at several viable alternatives that it had refused to consider.
TRAHVOL have been watching the situation in Ontario unfold and have been working closely with members of STOP (Stop Transmission Lines Over People). Residents in Tsawwassen are vehemently opposed to BCTC/ BC Hydro’s current proposal to install new 23OkV overhead lines carrying 23 times more power and have been expressing concerns about the adverse health effects associated with EMFs including childhood leukemia, breast cancer, miscarriage and brain cancer. These transmission lines run over 200 homes, close to the high school, two elementary schools, neighbourhood parks and an extended care facility.
The residents have gained support from Delta City Council who passed resolutions for BCTC to abandon the current route and have also retained a lawyer to represent the municipality. The Delta School Board was also urged to oppose the upgrade this week at a presentation made by TRAHVOL and a committee of concerned parents and students. TRAHVOL has expressed strong opposition to BCTC’s plan for over three months and has had public meetings attended by hundreds of residents and launched a petition with over 2000 signatures.
TRAHVOL has also met with Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy and Mines to request his intervention in mandating BCTC and BC Hydro to abandon this route and pursue a safe alternative that won’t put residents’ health at risk. Bruce Barrett, Project Manager of BCTC has recently stated “We can assure people that any alternatives examined will comply in all respects with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.” The residents claim the current route does not comply with the WHO “Precautionary Principle” which recommends “changes to planning procedures to reduce exposure to overhead lines” based on a growing body of scientific research linking EMF with adverse health effects. Cecil Dunn, Co-Chair of TRAHVOL says he is “hopeful that the Ontario decision will convince all provincial governments to take proactive measures in protecting people’s health, safety and well being. This would be in keeping with the recently released WHO Precautionary Principle.”
Local MLA Val Roddick will be presenting the TRAHVOL petition in the BC legislature tomorrow.
For more information, please contact: Maureen Broadfoot, TRAHVOL at 604-943-1656 or 230-9800.