Pembroke, Ontario… Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, is inviting all interested members of the public to provide their comments, input and suggestions regarding the proposal by Rogers Communications to locate a communications tower at 213 Lake Street in downtown Pembroke.
“As a Member of the Standing Committee on Industry, I am pleased to confirm that new regulations proposed by our committee regarding the siting of communications towers and the requirement for public consultation, among other things, came into effect July 15th, 2014,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP. “This requirement for public consultation is part of our democratic initiative to ensure taxpayers have a say when it comes to matters controlled by the Federal Government.”
“It has come to my attention that in the past, some telecommunications providers felt it was not necessary to consult with affected stakeholders, including local municipal governments,” remarked Cheryl Gallant, MP. “I was concerned to read a quote from a Riding newspaper, where a company representative was referenced as saying that because telecommunications is a federal responsibility, there was not a duty to consult in regards to the Lake Street proposal.
“I am pleased to confirm there is a duty to consult. In the absence of any municipal bylaw, Industry Canada has put a default consultation process in place. In the case of Lake Street Pembroke, I understand that a meeting has been arranged between Rogers Communications and the City of Pembroke to address their concerns. I have been assured by the Federal Minister of Industry that should it prove necessary, his Ministry is prepared to intervene in this case,” concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.
Industry Canada’s Default Public Consultation Process
Proponents must follow Industry Canada’s Default Public Consultation Process where the local land-use authority does not have an established and documented public consultation process applicable to antenna siting. Industry Canada’s default process has three steps whereby the proponent:
- provides written notification to the public, the land-use authority and Industry Canada of the proposed antenna system installation or modification (i.e. public notification);
- engages the public and the land-use authority in order to address relevant questions, comments and concerns regarding the proposal (i.e. responding to the public); and
- provides an opportunity to the public and the land-use authority to formally respond in writing to the proponent regarding measures taken to address reasonable and relevant concerns (i.e. public reply comment).