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

Over 50 ed assistants cut for First Nations students

July 3, 2025

Blake Ellis/The Independent Lambton-Kent District School Board passed a $383 million balanced budget for the 2025-26 school year but local Indigenous leaders are concerned.  While Trustee Roberta Northmore called it a wonderful budget during the June 24 meeting, she did not support it saying there was no consultation with the four First Nations within the Lambton-Kent boundaries.  Northmore called the

Read More

Image
Front Page

Ham radio fans say hello to the Netherlands without leaving Enniskillen

July 3, 2025

Blake Ellis/The Independent Ham radio enthusiasts tuned into locations throughout North America and the world, connecting with Texas, Argentina, the Caribbean and the Netherlands all from Enniskillen Township. The Lambton County Radio Club held its annual field day on Saturday and Sunday, for a 24 hour period at Krall Park in Enniskillen Township.  Field day demonstrates ham radio’s ability to

Read More

Image
Front Page

Petrolia splash pad almost ready

July 3, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia’s long-awaited splash pad should be up and running by the end of July.  That from Town of Petrolia officials who acknowledged they’d hoped it would be open July 1. In 2019, a community survey called for a splash pad. The 2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan also picked up on the desire for the water feature.

Read More

Image
Front Page

Two drowned in the waters off Ipperwash on the Canada Day weekend

July 2, 2025

The Independent It was a deadly long weekend on Lake Huron in Lambton Shores. Monday, an 18 year-old London resident died and a 12 year-old had to be rescued from the waters at Ipperwash Beach. Today, Lambton OPP report another person – a 44 year-old from Lambton Shores – has also died while swimming. Police, paramedics and Lambton Shores firefighters

Read More