THE District of West Vancouver will not be asking the province to halt the mandatory installation of smart meters after council voted down a motion opposing BC Hydro's controversial devices.
Coun. Bill Soprovich introduced the motion at a council meeting Tuesday night, arguing the wireless gauges, which are being installed in homes all over the province, could pose a health risk.
"A moratorium would say to the government, 'Hold the phone, people have rights,'" said Soprovich.
He prefaced his motion by reading a letter from Citizens for Safe Technology, an advocacy group that has contended that radiation from the metres is cumulative and possibly carcinogenic. Assurances from the Ministry of Health that the radiofrequency radiation is intermittent and well below the public limit are not enough, he argued. "This provides no assurance of safety," Soprovich said.
He received support from Coun. Nora Gambioli, who said it might be in the interest of public health to request a stop to the installations. Others on council were unconvinced, however.
"I'll be voting against the motion," said Mayor Michael Smith. "I personally know nothing about smart meters," he added, explaining that he believed the province did its due diligence on the issue.
"I just don't feel like I'm in a position to make a determination," said Coun. Mary-Ann Booth, who also voted against the plan.
The motion was defeated 5-2, with Soprovich and Gambioli in the minority.
jshepherd@nsnews.com
