Image

Stats Can wants $10k to look at raw data from Health Canada wind turbine study

December 24, 2014

 

 

A Plympton-Wyoming family trying to stop Suncor Energy from building industrial turbines will have to shell out $10,000 to look at data they think will help prove turbines hurt human health.

Lawyers for the Bryce family have asked the Environmental Review Tribunal to adjourn the hearing into the appeal of the project for six months so they can study data collected by Health Canada.

The federal agency recently released the preliminary report and the family’s lawyer believes there is evidence that can link some of the noise caused by industrial wind turbines to problems such as headaches and sleeplessness.

But Asha James told the ERT Stats Canada will only allow a researcher 22 days to analyse the data for $10,000.

Lawyers for Suncor also told the ERT adjudicators they had applied to see the raw data as well but had been told it would cost $4,500.

Elizabeth Bellavance speaks for We’re Against Industrial Turbines Plympton-Wyoming. She’s disappointed by the revelation, but not surprised.

“It’s unreasonable and is not common sense,” says Bellavance, noting Canadian taxpayers already paid $2.1 million for the study.

“It is one more added injustice to fairness,” says Bellavance.

“I’m getting to the point where I accept the unfairness, deal with it and move forward.”

But she’d like to see Suncor agree to a delay to allow researchers to look at the data.

“Why would they not want more information to support their safety values?” she asks, noting the study summary does talk about how wind turbines are “statistically associated” with health effects.

“An unbiased expert needs to access this data and review it,” says Bellavance.

While she believes the fee is unfair, for the Bryce family it is a heavy financial burden to bear, Bellavance says.

“I am hopeful the community will realize just how unfair the process is and come forward to help pay for this.”

 

 

Share This

Image
Front Page

Co-founder of Lambton Concert Band retires

June 9, 2026

Blake Ellis/The Independent For 82 years, Norm Sutherland has immersed himself in his passion of playing music and performing with various bands. May 24, the 92 year-old Petrolia man gave his last performance with the Bluewater Wind Ensemble, a group he has been playing with for the past two years. Sutherland joined Petrolia’s White Rose Junior Band at the age

Read More

Image
Front Page

Operation Talk 2 Me Johnny hands out $25K

June 8, 2026

Blake Ellis/The Independent Operation Talk 2 Me Johnny handed out over $25,000 to groups supporting people with mental health issues. The organization held its annual Family Fun Day at the Brigden Fairgrounds last Saturday. Operation Talk 2 Me Johnny was launched in May 2023 by the family of Canadian Armed Forces veteran Sergeant John Little of Wyoming, 18 months after

Read More

Image
Front Page

Killer Bees sign more home-grown talent

June 8, 2026

Barry Wright/The Independent Watford’s Kyle Brothers is the latest area talent to return home to play senior hockey for the Alvinston Killer Bees of the Northern Premier Hockey League. The 32-year-old has played professionally in Europe for the past eight seasons. He played junior hockey in Alvinston, Lambton Shores and Chatham before skating for four seasons of NCAA hockey at

Read More

Image
Front Page

Deputy chief, civilian also suspended in workplace harassment investigation at Sarnia Police

June 8, 2026

Board chair says “multiple people” have come forward Heather Wright/The Independent The chair of Sarnia’s Police Services Board says “multiple people” have come forward in the workplace harassment investigation. That’s has led to more suspensions of the department’s top administrators. The board released a statement announcing Deputy Chief Ron Hansen and an unnamed civilian employee had been suspended Monday morning.

Read More