Residents in Etobicoke are fighting a proposed 5G cell tower, citing fears about health risks, insufficient consultation, and proximity to schools and homes.
Gabe Oatley reports for TorontoToday.
In short:
- A group of Etobicoke residents is opposing a 25-meter 5G cell tower proposed near Renforth Drive, citing concerns over cancer, interference with medical devices, and potential risks to children.
- Local Councillor Stephen Holyday and Toronto Catholic District School Board chair Markus de Domenico have both publicly opposed the project, calling for more consultation and questioning the location’s suitability.
- Health Canada maintains that 5G exposure is safe within federal guidelines, but critics point to past public health failures as reason to be cautious.
Key quote:
“We’re all seniors here. We’ve lived our lives... [But] who’s listening to their three-and-a-half-year-old’s voice? Who's going to protect them?”
— Nunzio Del Giudice, Etobicoke resident
Why this matters:
A 2022 review of the scientific literature on the health effects of RF radiation emitted by cell towers linked exposure to radiofrequency sickness, cancer and biochemical changes. The proposed 5G tower in Etobicoke highlights a growing tension between rapid technological deployment and concerns about health and safety. While federal regulators and telecom firms insist 5G radiation levels are well below harmful thresholds, skeptics point to scientific uncertainties and Canada's history of delayed health protections. The tower would be built close to seven schools and a daycare, deepening worries about long-term exposure, especially in children whose developing bodies may be more vulnerable to electromagnetic fields.
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