HESA Committee Report

The Conservative Party would like to thank the stakeholders and witnesses who participated in this study.

We support Canada’s current guidelines on human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic energy as they are science based and not ideologically driven.  In fact, our guidelines are the result of an ongoing review of scientific studies and of overwhelming scientific evidence.

In developing these guidelines, Canada followed the process set out by the World Health Organization.  Our established limits for human exposure are well below the threshold for any potential harm and are among the most stringent in the world.  In fact, the WHO International EMF Project, of which Canada is a partner, was established to assess the scientific evidence of possible health effects.

With respect to the recommendation on adverse effect reporting, we would like to reiterate that, to date, there has been no credible science linking exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitting devices and adverse health effects. To establish a process for reporting adverse health effects would not assist us in making that link. Rather, it is the long-term studies and literature reviews that are being proposed that could make the link, if there is one to be made. Until a scientifically supported link is established, a database of adverse reaction reports would simply act as a holding place, as there would be no science to support taking action.

In the interest of ensuring that Canada’s guidelines on human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic energy remain based in science and not ideology, we would like to suggest the following recommendation:

That Health Canada continue to review emerging science related to the impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic energy ( microwave) emissions on human health and take appropriate action should scientific evidence of risks demonstrate that current guidelines are not adequate to protect the health and safety of Canadians.