Is 5G wireless technology safe? Does it harm human health? Do homeowners want massive communications antennae towering over their yards? And are fast wireless speeds really important to people?
Those were some questions city council wrestled with during its Sept. 25 regular meeting, as it discussed whether to allow SaskTel to replace its current communications tower near Elgin Park — and adjacent to the Prairie South School Board office — with a newer, taller one.
Council later voted 4-2 to receive and file the motion, essentially doing nothing. Councillors Jamey Logan, Crystal Froese, Doug Blanc and Heather Eby were in favour, while councillors Dawn Luhning and Kim Robison were opposed.
Mayor Clive Tolley was absent.
There are eight SaskTel communications towers in Moose Jaw, with most on the outskirts of town; six have already been converted to 5G.
Homeowner’s concerns
Homeowner Howie Cormier spoke to council, saying he had lived near Elgin Park for 35 years and didn’t want an “eyesore” beside one of the oldest — and nicest — parks in Moose Jaw.
He pointed out that SaskTel’s current tower is 15 metres tall with three antennae, while the new tower would be 35 metres tall — equivalent to a 10-storey building — with 12 antennae.
The Crown corporation was supposed to send information to homeowners asking for feedback by August, but Cormier said he didn’t receive anything. Meanwhile, he said he received a Sept. 13-dated letter on Sept. 19 from city hall asking him to submit written feedback by Sept. 22 — a deadline he found impossible, hence his in-person presentation.
Some of Cormier’s neighbours told him they hadn’t received anything either, while others said they were aware but scared to “stir the pot and speak in person.”
“This one couple I talked to (has) been living on Eighth Avenue across from Elgin Park for 53 years, and what broke my heart is the woman … looked at me and said, ‘Why fight? Why cause a disturbance? At the end of the day, they’re going to build the damn thing anyway,’” he recalled.
“To me, that’s not acceptable.”
Guidelines needed
Not only do thousands of children participate in summer programs there, but there are 10 homes within 30 metres (100 feet) of the tower’s base, he continued. The first thing some homeowners will see if this project proceeds is a massive monopole towering over everything; trees barely hide the current tower.
Residents in Regina’s Harbour Landing petitioned their council in 2022 to disallow a 5G tower near their homes, with that council tabling the issue until city hall developed guidelines, Cormier said. Guidelines were created, and this past May, that council voted that 5G towers had to be away from all residences 1.5 times the pole’s height.
“(This) tower will not be anywhere near that,” he stated, adding other jurisdictions — such as Warman, Montreal’s West End and Nova Scotia — have all successfully petitioned against having 5G towers near parks or residences.
Cormier criticized Health Canada’s 5G guidelines, saying he didn’t believe the federal Crown organization had done enough research into the health effects such towers had on people — especially those who were home every day.
Medical studies
The homeowner pointed to a Swiss medical study, which advised caution because “the most stringent legal principles” should be applied due to unanswered questions about the technology’s potential to damage the human nervous system and cause cancer.
He also pointed to McGill University professor Dr. Paul Heroux, who found 5G technology could be harmful.
Cormier suggested SaskTel should construct its new tower north of the Kinsmen Sportsplex in an empty field. He acknowledged that “it’s hard to fight a big corporation.” However, considering that company makes billions of dollars a year, “they can pour a (new) concrete base down the road.”
“To ruin a park with an eyesore like that, I think there’s a better place that SaskTel can (put it),” Cormier added.
SaskTel’s response
Brandon Hanson, SaskTel’s real estate manager, and Greg Jacobs, communications manager, spoke by video.
Hanson explained that the new tower would deliver improved services — especially indoors — while an upgraded monopole is required to support the added weight of the 5G equipment.
“Stronger coverage is critical because it improves the reliability of the connection and provides greater bandwidth for the connection,” he said. “Whether … for an emergency voice call or a video conference, reliable coverage and capacity (are) essential.”
SaskTel considers several factors when looking for a new location — not an easy task — or replacement site, such as wireless usage patterns, terrain, nearby buildings, distance, weather and line-of-sight requirements, Hanson continued. The company determined this location was still the best site.
Furthermore, the Crown corporation ensures its towers conform to Health Canada’s instructions with radio frequency (RF) equipment, he said. When testing sites, SaskTel has found that its RF emissions are “many times lower” than what Ottawa allows — about one to two per cent of the maximum level.
“SaskTel understands that some towers often contrast with the surrounding landscape. However … cell towers, much like roads and power lines, are critical pieces of modern infrastructure that allow us to connect with the people, places and services we require on a daily basis,” Hanson remarked.
‘Significant coverage gap’
A “significant coverage gap” would occur if SaskTel did not install this new tower in a high-density area within 500 metres of other towers because 5G covers less area than 4G, while it may have to decommission the site if it can’t remove all equipment associated with Chinese company Huawei by 2027, Hanson said, adding SaskTel was committed to providing residents with “cutting-edge communications technology.”
When asked if SaskTel possessed a “definitive” report saying 5G was OK for human health, Jacobs said humanity has used radio frequencies for over 100 years, while SaskTel was using the newest technology “slightly differently.”
He reiterated that SaskTel follows Health Canada’s guidelines, and if its cell towers ever exceeded the acceptable threshold, it would decommission them. Also, installing taller towers increases the distance between radio networks and people and reduces how much RF energy reaches the ground.
The Express will have a separate story featuring council’s comments.
The next regular council meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 11.
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