Wind turbine dispute leads to call for medical officer of health to resign 

CAVAN MONAGHAN TOWNSHIP – Dr. Rosana Pellizzari says there is no reason for her to resign despite a request by Cavan Monaghan Councillor Tim Belch at a meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 14).

Dr. Pellizzari, local medical officer of health, spoke to township council regarding renewable energy and the impacts wind turbines have on health. The request for Dr. Pellizzari’s resignation came following her presentation where she stated there were no “causal links” to poor health from wind turbines based on current scientific evidence. Those findings were outlined in a 2010 report by Dr. Arlene King, Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario, that Dr. Pellizzari helped with.

But Coun. Belch doesn’t agree. He said evidence will undoubtedly be uncovered proving there is a link to health problems as a result of wind turbines.

“Would you be willing to resign when they release information there are indirect links?” questioned Coun. Belch.

Dr. Pellizzari backed up her report saying at the time the scientific evidence showed no link between wind turbines and health problems, however she is willing to admit that, with many scientific findings, things change.

“I have no reason to resign,” said Dr. Pellizzari after the meeting.

She added the University of Waterloo and Health Canada are currently working on studies to answer the very questions Cavan Monaghan Township councillors have on the controversial issue of wind turbines.

READ MORE: Winslow Family Says No To Wind Turbines

They have recently placed a moratorium on the construction any wind turbines in the township. However, there is a wind turbine project, called Stoneboat Community Wind Farm, in the works for the Millbrook area that doesn’t need municipal approval.

The developer of the proposed wind farm, Martin Ince, acquired the Feed In Tariff (FIT) contract from the group behind the former Whispering Woods Wind Farm, which was eventually dropped. The FIT contract was granted before the Province stipulated that companies needed approval from host municipalities.

The Stoneboat project is up in the air. Frequent requests to Mr. Ince’s office for an interview by This Week have not been granted.

Dr. Pellizzari was asked to speak at the council meeting on Tuesday to provide information about the impacts of renewable energy on health.

WATCH: Protestors ‘greet’ wind turbine developer before Sept. 3 meeting

Dr. Pellizzari anticipated some pointed questions from councillors due to the contentious nature of the wind-turbine debate.

During Coun. Belch’s questions he said the health unit sells a “bill of goods that’s complete nonsense.” He says there is proof that wind turbines do cause adverse health effects, citing recent studies in Germany. He said that country is turning their backs on wind turbines for energy production and going back to coal-fired plants.

“They came to the conclusion they spent billions on a failed experiment,” said Coun. Belch.

He added the Province threw its support behind wind-turbine technology before all the evidence about its impacts were uncovered. He added the 2010 report just backed up what the Province wanted health officials to say.

“I will try not to take offence (to Coun. Belch’s comments) that the health unit is a mouthpiece for the Ontario government. I’m a physician…my mandate is to protect the health of the public,” said Dr. Pellizzari

Coun. Lynda Todd later apologized for Coun. Belch’s remarks and request for Dr. Pellizzari’s resignation saying they were out of order.

Dr. Pellizzari left the meeting saying she will relay the Township’s concerns to Public Health Ontario that they feel there needs to be more direction from that organization regarding the effects of renewable energy on health.