1) Some members are participating in Maple Ridge’s Geti Fest this year. What a great way to get information out into the community.
“Our “cell tower” group is going to be involved in “Geti Fest” this year. Sept. 21 from 10-2 at the Farmers Market in Maple Ridge is where this event will take place. We, as well as others, have a tent (location c12).
“This year’s theme is Solutions and will showcase groups, organizations, and individuals that are involved in making our community a better place to live, work, and play. We will focus on building a vibrant, resilient and localized community while shining a light on solutions to issues big and small, whether they are local or global. We will highlight the environment, food security, local economy, social collaboration and health and wellbeing.””
2) Finally, a political party has put forth a plank in their platform that would require further investigation into the problems associated with 5G. No specifics about Huawei are included but in the past, Elizabeth May has addressed security concerns associated with this Chinese company’s participation in our infrastructure. Hopefully, the other parties will follow.
Please ask the candidates in your ridings [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_candidates_by_riding_for_the_2019_Canadian_federal_election] where they stand re. 5G, help educate them if they are poorly informed, and ask them to make a public statement if they want your vote. If they make a public statement, send it to me and I’ll share.
Green Party platform: no anonymous social media, 5G rollout on hold
“The Green Party platform also includes a promise that, if implemented, would make the rollout of 5G conditional on the approval of a Parliamentary committee. Should the Greens be elected this October, they are promising to: “Strike a parliamentary committee to examine the implications of introducing 5G technology, including security issues and impacts on weather forecasting, and make recommendations on how and if Canada should proceed.”
3) From Anne Mills who also sent some recommendations for making traveling in cars a little more tolerable. The amount of RF that drivers and passengers, not to mention people walking or riding bikes near cars, will be extremely high and this is just the start.
“This is one of the reasons we have windows shielded with “Signal Protect Clear”. Between the cell antenna/towers, other drivers’ cell phones and other vehicles with radar, I was getting ill whenever we traveled on the freeway. My husband found this window tint at Safe Living Technologies that is really made for the government for anti-eavesdropping. It is made for flat glass, buildings, so we purchased a vehicle with flatter windows and had someone expert in applying window tint in vehicles apply this to all windows in our vehicle. It is not very dark at all, so fine for night driving. Between this window tint and the metal of our vehicle, we screen out 99.8% per Eric Windheim’s equipment. This has made a large difference in health while traveling.
(I wrote this up in my book). After it is applied, the bubbles “cook” out. Also, having this tint means I can use my shielded head cover less when traveling.”
Anne Mills, All EMF*d UP
(click on photo to enlarge)
Portable RADAR Testing Saves Time on the Assembly Line
“The OEM currently uses radar modules operating at two different frequencies, adding to the challenge. Some vehicle models utilize 77 GHz units mounted in the front for collision warning and emergency braking, and in the rear for the intelligent parking assistance and near-field navigation. In addition, most models have 24 GHz radar sensors mounted on the sides and towards the rear to provide blind-spot warnings and rear-end collision detection…
Automotive radar requires installation of five sensors: four short-range antennas, with one at the corner of each bumper; and one longer-range antenna behind the front bumper. All require testing, and the only way to ensure proper operation is to verify the output of each one at a known distance. Crucial measurements include spectrum flatness, linearity, and phase noise.”
4) Two U.S. Congressmen have written to the FCC regarding the fact that cellphones have been found to exceed the exposure standards, and questioning the FCC’s stance to maintain its guideline established in 1996. I wish some of our MPs [https://stopsmartmetersbc.com/z/canada-contact-e-mail-lists/] would do this.
5) This recommendation from Sonia Furstenau’s office to a member fighting to keep her analog and not have her power disconnected. One of the problems that we face, and which the Ombudsperson will confirm, is that the Clean Energy Act that the Liberals enacted, with little public input and without any regulatory oversight in 2010, mandates that every home have a smeter. It is key that this Act be reversed, and the NDP did promise to review it as it pertains to smeters. They failed to keep this promise.
The Office of the Ombudsperson receives complaints about unfair administrative decisions or actions, including lack of adequate reasons, unreasonable delay, unfair procedures, and arbitrary or unauthorised procedures. If we cannot deal with your complaint, we’ll do our best to refer you to someone who can.
The Office of the Ombudsperson can help determine whether B.C. provincial and local public authorities have acted fairly and reasonably – and whether their actions and decisions were consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
Have the following ready to share with them:
a list of the people at the authority(ies) in question you spoke with about your complaint, when you spoke with them and what they said, and
copies of all relevant documents and correspondence – including emails – between you and the authority(ies) in question.
I am not aware of any previous complaints about smart meters, but there is always a first time. You can make an online complaint here
https://www.bcombudsperson.ca/complaints/make-online-complaint
Good Luck and let us know the outcome.
Tricia Datené / Constituency Assistant
Constituency Office of Sonia Furstenau, MLA
164 Station St, Duncan, BC V9L 1M7
Phone: 250-715-2793 | Fax: (778) 698-8934
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Letters:
From: Lavonne Garnett & Nick Dudink (names given with permission)
To: “Complaints BCUC” <Complaints@bcuc.com>
Cc: “doug routley” <douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca>,sonia.furstenau.mla@leg.bc.ca; , “empr minister” <empr.minister@gov.bc.ca>, “OfficeofthePremier, Office PREM:EX” <premier@gov.bc.ca>, “andrew weaver mla” <andrew.weaver.mla@leg.bc.ca>, “adrian dix mla” <adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca>, “paul manly c1” <paul.manly.c1@parl.gc.ca>, “Elizabeth May” <elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca>, “Ginette PetitpasTaylor” <ginette.petitpastaylor@parl.gc.ca>, “editor” <editor@watershedsentinel.ca>, “editor” <editor@nanaimobulletin.com>, “justin trudeau” <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>, “tricia datene” <tricia.datene@leg.bc.ca>, “Adam Olsen MLA” <Adam.Olsen.MLA@leg.bc.ca>, “ken duke” <ken.duke@bchydro.com>, “chris oriley” <chris.oriley@bchydro.com>, “Global Witness” <news@globalwitness.org>, “letters” <letters@timescolonist.com>, “Island Tides” <news@islandtides.com>, “customer relations” <customer.relations@bchydro.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2019 9:18:06 PM
Subject: Time Contingent Power Disconnection Threat
BC Utilities Commission:
BC Hydro has been sending us letters, saying we must have a Smart Meter, Radio On or Off, over the past few years. About 2-3 years ago, when they told us that our analogue meter had expired, we opted for another analogue that we thought would last us 30 or more years. After much controversy, regarding safety, security and health, Liberal Minister Rich Coleman stated publicly that BC residents could keep their analogues, albeit for a reading fee of $32.40. There would have been no point to pay for this if, later, we could not continue to keep our analogues.
More recently, we received letters from BC Hydro telling us that our analogue meter has expired and that it must be replaced with a Smart Meter, or our power will be cut off. A technician is scheduled to come during this week of September 16-20.
BC Hydro says they have no more analogue meters in stock so we have to have a Smart Meter, or else we’ll be disconnected. If the reason we can’t retain analogue meters is no stock (which sounds like a policy decision to us) we’ll happily buy two and have them certified by Measurement Canada at our own expense.
We are awaiting a response from BC Hydro’s CEO and CRO to do with these matters. We sent you a copy of that letter last week. We are asking you to contact BC Hydro immediately to prevent any disconnection of our power, while we consider what options will be best and affordable for our health, safety and security. We also ask that the BCUC review BC Hydro’s statement that Minister Coleman “misspoke”, that his promise no longer needs to be honoured, and that we have not been publicly notified of this.
Please attend to this immediately to ensure we are not treated unjustly.
Lavonne Garnett & Nick Dudink
*******************
(comment by Sharon: Didn’t the NDP re-establish the BCUC’s oversight responsibility for the smeter program?)
From: “Complaints BCUC” <Complaints@bcuc.com>
To: “Garnett & Dudink, Lavonne & Nick”
Sent: Monday, 16 September, 2019 09:58:14
Subject: RE: Time Contingent Power Disconnection Threat
Dear Ms. Garnett & Mr. Dudink,
Thank you for your email to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) regarding smart meters.
As you may be aware and as set out by the provincial government in section 4 of Direction No. 4 to the BCUC (Direction No. 4), the BCUC was prohibited from directly or indirectly preventing BC Hydro from installing, operating or providing services in respect of legacy meters, smart meters, and radio-off meters. Furthermore, section 7 of the Clean Energy Act exempts BC Hydro’s Smart Metering Program from BCUC’s regulation under certain sections of the Utilities Commission Act. For more information, the Clean Energy Act is available online at
https://www.leg.bc.ca/39th2nd/1st_read/gov17-1.htm
As your disconnection notice is related to the installation of smart meters, the BCUC is unable to intervene in this matter. We encourage you to please continue to work with BC Hydro directly.
We trust this information is helpful and thank you for contacting the BCUC.
Kind Regards,
Keshni Nand
Analyst, Compliance and MRS
British Columbia Utilities Commission
********************
(Sharon’s comments in blue)
From: “doug routley” <Douglas.Routley.MLA@leg.bc.ca>
To: “LAVONE GARNET”
Sent: Thursday, 12 September, 2019 14:14:17
Subject: RE: BC Hydro Extension Request before next week
Good Afternoon Lavone,
We appreciate that this is a difficult situation. I have been in contact with the Ministry about the smart meter issue numerous times and Ministry staff have confirmed for me today that there is nothing we, as a MLA office, can do about preventing BC Hydro from requiring a change in your meter.
In accordance with the federal government’s Electricity and Gas Act, electricity meters in service at Canadian Utilities, including BC Hydro, are required to have a valid Measurement Canada accuracy seal. BC Hydro’s meters must be removed from service when their Measurement Canada accuracy seal expires as this is a standard operational process and a legal obligation for BC Hydro for Measurement Canada compliance. BC Hydro is subject to significant Measurement Canada penalties if they fail to comply with this legal obligation.
Measurement Can. does not require a meter to be removed when it “expires”, only that the accuracy be certified.
BC Hydro is offering 2 options for meters, the standard smart meter and the radio off smart meter. These options and associated fees are aligned with BC Hydro’s “Meter Choices Program”, which was approved by the BCUC in April 2014. As a MLA, and even as government, we do not have the ability to override a decision made by the BCUC, they are independent from government and political interference.
The government can’t override the BCUC??? The government did that when it took BCUC’s oversight away re. Site C and the smeter program. This is a cop out by Routley.
BC Hydro has stated that disconnections are a last resort and only done after extensive warnings, and refusal to allow installation of one of the two choices for meters. In many cases BC Hydro has been contacting customer for 6 months to 1 year prior to sending a disconnection notice. We, as a MLA office, do not have the ability to delay or cancel a disconnection notice, in any circumstance, but particularly when that delay could result in Hydro receiving financial penalties from Measurement Canada.
I know this is not the answer that you would like, and I appreciate the difficulty of the situation, but as a MLA office there is no recourse for us to reverse this decision. I have made extensive contact with the Ministry and Hydro and explored every possible avenue. The only other thing that was suggested to me was for customers to file an official complaint with the BCUC.
Regards,
Sarah M Miller | Constituency Assistant | Doug Routley, MLA Nanaimo-North Cowichan
bcgeu
Nanaimo #112- 50 Tenth Street | P: 250.716.5221 | F: 250.716.5222
Ladysmith #1-16 High Street | P: 250.245.9375 | F: 250.245.8164
Sharon Noble, Director, Coalition to Stop Smart Meters
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” Mark Twain