Decision is coming; you can make a difference

Now that the City has sent its letter, the next step is for Industry Canada to make a decision.

You can make a difference.

Write to Industry Canada and let them know how you feel about the proposal.  Letters are very important; for every letter received, politicians conclude that about 100 more people feel the same way.

Letter-writing is easy.  Your letter should be short, and to the point.  Just say what you think, in your own words.

You may wish to say whether the location is appropriate, or if there are more appropriate locations in the vicinity.  You could also add any concerns you may have, e.g. about potential long-term health impacts or reduced property values.

You can address your letter or email to:

• Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry – minister.industry@ic.gc.ca

• Mr. Badruddin Allidina, Manager, Industry Canada Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Directorate – Allidina.Badruddin@ic.gc.ca

You can also send it to Rogers if you wish:

• Nadir Mohamed, Rogers President and CEO – Nadir.Mohamed@rci.rogers.com
• Brendon Krueger, Rogers Communications Inc. – brendon.krueger@rci.rogers.com

Please do send a copy to Westmount Concerned Residents – rogerstower@gmail.com.

City of Edmonton does not support proposed location

In a letter to Industry Canada dated 2 March 2010, the City of Edmonton noted that the tower is being proposed on land that is “surrounded by low-density residential development.”

It concluded that the City of Edmonton “cannot support the tower at this location” and withholds concurrence for the proposal.

M.L.A. does not support proposed location

On February 8, Honourable Heather Klimchuk, Edmonton-Glenora M.L.A. and Minister of Service Alberta, wrote a letter to the Federal Minister of Industry.

The Minister reviewed the problems with both the consultation process and the location, and said:

As the MLA for Edmonton-Glenora I cannot support the proposed location by Rogers Communications

She continued to ask the Minister of Industry to

take into consideration the views and concerns of my constituents in this matter.

Consultation? Or slipping under the radar?

The City of Edmonton Policy for Siting Telecommunications Facilities requires public consultation for towers over 15 m (section 9.01).

The consultation process requires the carrier (Rogers) to notify the Community Leagues within 180 meters of the proposed tower (section 9.02).

• Westmount Community League was not notified.

And a meeting is supposed to be held with Councillors and Community Leagues (8.01).

• No such meeting was held.

Interestingly, when Rogers held its open house, it did so at the Inglewood Community Hall, not the Westmount Community Hall…

M.P. does not support proposed location

On February 2 Honourable Laurie Hawn, MP for Edmonton Centre, wrote to the Minister of Industry and the City of Edmonton pointing out the concerns being expressed by his constituents.  After reviewing those concerns and the violations of the City of Edmonton Policy, he concluded:

I cannot support the currently proposed site by Rogers Communications Inc. as this site is so close in proximity to a residential area and violates … the City of Edmonton Policy for Siting Telecommunication Facilities.

Impact on property values

Robert Parsons, a leading realtor and an authority on Westmount real estate, says that the tower will likely have a negative impact on property values of homes near the tower.

Do you want to protect your property values?  Want to know what you can do?  Click here.

Rogers Tower Facebook site

Students at Westglen Elementary School have established a  Rogers Tower Facebook site.

Within a few days it already had close to a hundred friends!

Other organizations are also starting to line up against the proposed site.

A residential neighbourhood

Rogers Communication Inc has proposed the construction of a 30 metre high cellular mobile tower in the northwest part of Westmount, in Edmonton.

It’s a residential neighbourhood.  The tower would back on to  single detached homes.

The City of Edmonton Policy for Siting Telecommunications Facilities says:

4.03      Discouraged Locations

New facilities should avoid the following areas:

a)     Low density residential areas where the area consists predominantly of single detached, semi-detached, duplex, mobile/manufactured home or row housing forms.

Concerned residents of Westmount would like Rogers to use a more appropriate location.