Letter to MP Murray Rankin

Dear MP Murray Rankin,

As you know the 42nd Parliament is scheduled to reconvene on Dec 3^rd.   Parents are asking MP's to support the Canadian Parliament Committee discussion on possible links between RF exposure causing cancer, reproductive issues and autism. Concerns were raised about RF exposure in schools due to use of industrial strength Wi-Fi; the need for RF exposure limits to protect vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, infants and children, and persons with electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS)

Health Canada has disregarded or minimized certain recent studies, such as cancer, DNA damage, protein synthesis, stress response, and detrimental biological and health effects in humans that occur at radiation levels far below the existing Safety Code 6 Guideline. During the hearings four international experts testified that Health Canada is "either unwilling or not competent" to judge current scientific evidence that wireless radiation is harmful to our health. Health Canada is not protecting our children.

In February 2015, Lloyds of London officially reiterated its policy to exclude any liability coverage for injuries, “Directly or indirectly arising out of, resulting from, or contributed to by electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic radiation, radio waves or noise.”  (Exclusion 32)  This would include microwave wireless radiation emitted from the commercial grade Wi-Fi transmitters and the multiple wireless devices.

The BC Ministry of Education in a letter addressed to the BC Confederation of Parents Advisory Councils (BCCPAC) November 19, 2012, states the decision to approve (or not) the installation of WiFi technology in schools was to be made by School Boards - not the government, writing "the Board of Education has the authority to develop policies addressing the use of wireless technology in schools and to implement the appropriate technology where it is deemed necessary to support the education needs of students". This position taken by the government places the onus and thereby all liability of risk on the shoulders of school districts. 

The School Boards have deferred to the School Health Officer rather than weighing the overwhelming evidence of harm and committed an error of law by giving the School Health Officer the decision-making powers beyond those set out in the School Act. In doing so, the Board inappropriately fettered its own jurisdiction to make findings and rule on the installation of wireless technology.

The role of the School Medical Officer is set out in the School Act at section 91. The School Medical Officer’s sole powers and duties under the applicable legislation are to: 

  examine or cause examinations to be made as to the general health of students of the schools in the school district when required by the Minister of Health to do so [section 91(1)]; and 

  report to the Board if the Officer considers that the health condition of any student is such as to endanger the health or welfare of others [section 91(2)]. 

Under no statutory or policy provision does there exist any grant of authority by the School Medical Officer to independently determine if electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic radiation, radio waves or noise constitutes a general health risk. 

Vancouver Island School Medical Officer Dr. Stanwick has stated: Upon review of the evidence, the prevailing position in this province from experts at the federal, provincial and regional levels is that the evidence reveals that “Wi-Fi exposure in schools does not pose a level of risk that is unacceptable.” The other chief medical health officers in the province, Provincial Health Officer, Ministry of Health and other federal and provincial agencies hold this position.

The Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Kendall has stated in a letter in April 2015, “Nor, as others have suggested do I make statements that such radiation is 'safe' ”.

Dr. Kendall and Dr. Stanwick have been unable to provide the parents with even ONE peer reviewed study by a scientist or medical expert stating “exposure to microwave radiation is safe for children.” 

School Boards with no educational background in the biological effects of microwave radiation, have decided for the parents without full disclosure or parental consent, it is now mandatory all children attending school, will be exposed to microwave radiation. Health Canada has provided School Officials with false statements about the safety of RF and robbed parents of their right to protect their children from this irreversible and permanent damage.

The burden of proof should not be put upon the public to prove that it’s unsafe, but upon the industry to prove it is safe.

All children have the right to access public education in a safe learning environment free of known carcinogens, especially when safer hard-wired connections to the Internet already exist in the schools.

Parents, teachers and children are counting on you to support the necessary changes to Health Canada’s guidelines and put an end to the suffering from the mandatory exposure to commercial wireless technology.

We are hoping you can find some time to meet with us to discuss our concerns.  Please find the C4ST fact sheet attached.

Sincerely,
 

Janis Hoffmann
C4ST Riding Rep.