AG Canada

Auditor General Environmental Petition for Safety Code 6


 

In our continuing efforts to have specific questions answered regarding Health Canada’s claims and Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s assertions that Safety Code 6 protects Canadians, C4ST submitted an environmental petition to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. This type of petition involves asking specific questions based on background information provided. The responsible federal government department is then required to respond.

Below is C4ST’s recently submitted petition as well as six others recently submitted related to Safety Code 6.  Also listed are 16 petitions related to Safety Code 6 submitted since 2007.

 

What is the environmental petitions process?

The environmental petitions process was created as a result of a 1995 amendment to the Auditor General Act. It is a way for Canadians to bring their concerns about environmental and sustainable development issues to the attention of the federal government and obtain a formal response.

On behalf of the Auditor General of Canada, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development manages the environmental petitions process and monitors responses of federal ministers. Once a petition is received and accepted, it is forwarded to the appropriate minister(s). Federal ministers respond to petitions on behalf of departments and agencies.

The Commissioner reports annually to Parliament, and each report contains a chapter on environmental petitions. These chapters report on the number, nature, and status of petitions received and on the departmental compliance with statutory timelines in the previous year.

The Commissioner’s team, or another audit team in the Office of the Auditor General, may consider the issues raised in petitions, and the responses they generate, when planning and conducting audits.

From the Office of the Attorney General’s website http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_lp_e_930.html

 


 

Canadians for Safe Technology (C4ST) Petition:

Petition number 398

Adequate warnings to Canadians about the effects of radio frequency and microwave radiation from personal and household wireless devices. http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_lp_e_938.html

The full petition can be found here.

In an effort to avoid receiving the same unsatisfactory responses we have received since starting to ask questions in 2012, C4ST provided comprehensive pre-emptive information in the background section.

Neither Health Canada or Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada provided satisfactory responses. C4ST is preparing a follow-up petition. Responses are posted on the website of the Office of the Auditor General as well as on the C4ST site.

Link to Health Canada and ISED responses.

 


 

Other Organizations and Canadians are asking about Safety Code 6

Petition summaries can be found at:

http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_lp_e_938.html

Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 threshold for excessive heating and other adverse effects from radio frequency and microwave wireless radiation on the human eye and on infants

The full petition can be found here.

Scientific review processes to determine limits on exposure to radio frequency radiation according to Safety Code 6

Recognition, protection, and accessibility for persons who suffer health impairment related to contamination by electromagnetic pollution

The full petition can be found here.

Exposure of vulnerable persons to microwave and radio frequency radiation

The full petition can be found here.

Precautionary messaging and advisories in schools for safer use of wireless devices

The full petition can be found here.

Scientific weight of evidence for Safety Code 6, Health Canada’s radio frequency exposure guidelines

The full petition can be found here.

Health Canada’s response can be found here.

 


 

Petitions submitted in previous years:

Potential impact on human health of electromagnetic radiation emanating from telecommunication towers on Triangle Mountain, British Columbia

http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_255B_e_32184.html