Toronto – Protocol for Towers and Antenna Under 15 Meters in Height

UPDATE

There were 3 agenda items before Toronto City Council Dec. 16-18

• PG29.8 Review of City Protocol for Telecommunications Towers Under 15 Metres in Height – Supplementary Report;
• PW27.10 Telecommunications – Authority to Permit the Installation of Stand-Alone Antenna Poles (on City’s public right-of-way)
• GM26.8 Telecommunication Towers and Antennae Agreements between Rogers Communication Inc. and the City of Toronto;

C4ST feels there were important precedents set by these items being passed by Council including another municipality in Canada formally asking Health Canada to revise Safety Code 6.

We especially thank councilor Jaye Robinson for her efforts and councilors Michelle Berardinetti and Adam Vaughan for their motions.

GM26.8 Telecommunication Towers and Antennae Agreements between Rogers Communication Inc. and the City of Toronto

City Council passed this agenda item.

C4ST supported the Terms and Conditions that we understand City staff has included in the Rogers agreement, especially:

1. Agreement to meet the City of Toronto’s Prudent Avoidance Policy for radiation emissions (at 100 times safer than Health Canada’s Safety Code 6) in which Toronto leads North America;
2. Indemnity: “Licensee to release and indemnify the City from claims arising from the license” which include health effects
3. All antenna will be tested annually to ensure they meet Toronto’s Prudent Avoidance Policy
4. Councilors will be notified of new tower requests and the new towers will adhere to PG29.8 Antenna Siting Protocol

We feel this is a very important precedent in North America and one other cities can copy.

PG29.8 Review of City Protocol for Telecommunications Towers Under 15 Metres in Height

City Council passed the above agenda item including the following additional motions:

1. Call on Industry Canada to require public consultation and consultation with the city for telecommunications towers under 15 metres in height;
2. Call on Health Canada to revise Safety Code 6 to meet international best practices in consultation with the public and appropriate experts; and,
3. Call on Toronto Hydro to adopt the city’s best practices, including its Telecommunications Tower Protocol, for any antenna mounted on Toronto Hydro poles.
4. City Council direct that a sign be posted on any telecommunications tower that would inform the public that the Federal Government has granted permission for the tower and that concerns should be directed to the local Member of Parliament and/or the appropriate federal authority, and to include the name and telephone number of the owning company.

PW27.10 Telecommunications – Authority to Permit the Installation of Stand-Alone Antenna Poles on City’s public right-of-way

City Council passed this agenda item.

C4ST did not support this item since this would be a new area of cell tower and antennae intrusion.
However, these new towers will be subject to the same terms as above:

1. Agreement to meet the City of Toronto’s Prudent Avoidance Policy for radiation emissions (at 100 times safer than Health Canada’s Safety Code 6) in which Toronto leads North America;
2. Indemnity: “Licensee to release and indemnify the City from claims arising from the license” which include health effects
3. All antenna will be tested annually to ensure they meet Toronto’s Prudent Avoidance Policy
4. Councilors will be notified of new tower requests and the new towers will adhere to PG29.8 Antenna Siting Protocol

On Monday December 16th, 2013 Toronto City Council will be voting on a major motion affecting the City of Toronto’s protocol for towers under 15 Meters in height which are currently exempt from public consultation by federal guidelines. The motion is Item 29.8 Review of City Protocol for Telecommunications Towers Under 15 Metres in Height (CLICK HERE).

Item 29.8 Review of City Protocol for Telecommunications Towers Under 15 Metres in Height

Currently under federal guidelines by Industry Canada, any cellular tower under 15M in height is exempt from public notice or consultation. Earlier this year, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (lobby group representing Bell, Rogers and Telus) did release a protocol for municipalities to follow re towers under 15M in height. The issue is this protocol is voluntary, does not include all the telecom companies, and has nothing to do with the health concerns regarding these towers. (See the FCM protocol HERE)