OTTAWA - A local health committee spokeswoman is appealing to Parliament "to do the right thing" and conduct comprehensive health studies on Port Hope residents.

At a Dec. 5 press conference held in Ottawa, NDP Environment Critic Nathan Cullen joined Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) chairwoman Faye More and Tedd Weyman, of the Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC), to question what they call Health Canada's denials of the health risks of uranium contamination in Port Hope residents.

In mid-November, the PHCHCC released a urine sample test result report authored by the UMRC that showed uranium contamination in a small group (nine) of Port Hope residents. In response to the findings, Health Canada's Radiation Protection Bureau Director Dr. Jack Cornett appeared at Port Hope council on Nov. 20. Dr. Cornett said all uranium concentrations reported in the UMRC study fell well below regulatory levels, were typical of levels found in people in every Canadian community and would not cause any adverse health effects.

However Mr. Cullen said Health Canada has consistently ignored the evidence that is available and has allowed the ongoing contamination of the town.

"The needs of ordinary Canadians are being ignored in favour of corporate profits," stated Mr. Cullen, in a press release. "We need to show leadership as the elected representatives of this country to ensure that the health of working people and of communities comes first. Health Canada should not be ignoring peer-reviewed studies nor give a false sense of security when real questions of safety exist."

Ms. More said it's time for the federal government and federal departments to stop letting the people of Port Hope down and come through with the comprehensive health studies it promised in 1979 but has failed to deliver. She explained the 2000 and 2002 Port Hope health studies released by Health Canada were only preliminary, designed to look for trends. She said peer-reviewed analysis of the Health Canada findings do indicate some higher incidences of some illnesses and cancers in Port Hope residents.

"We've (PHCHCC) done interventions, we've gone through all the hoops," she said "This is a national issue and we are appealing to Parliament to do the right thing and do the health studies."

Mr. Weyman said the uranium in urine sample test results have been dismissed by Health Canada as typical for Canadians. But Health Canada only tests for total uranium concentration, he explains. However, the UMRC test results show evidence of specific uranium isotopes from depleted uranium and spent reactor fuel. The question is, he asked, how did recycled and depleted uranium happen to get into the bodies of Port Hope people.

Mr. Cullen explained the PHCHCC and UMRC are not anti-nuclear; rather, they want the highest level of transparency and truth from the federal government. When studies such as the UMRC are released, it raises serious questions and has implications for global policy, he added.

"We need to know what materials they (nuclear industries) are dealing with and what they are doing with it," said Mr. Cullen.

In response to the press conference, Northumberland-Quinte West MP Rick Norlock said the federal government is not ignoring the health and welfare of Port Hope residents. The UMRC test results were analyzed by the Ministry of Health's radiation section, which found the levels to be well below acceptable levels, said Mr. Norlock. In addition, eight independent studies plus extensive monitoring of workers at Cameco and Zircatec, Port Hope's two nuclear-related industries, show the community does not suffer from higher incidences of illnesses, even those that may be attributed to radiation, he said.

From a scientific basis, there is no reason to engage in more specific health studies, Mr. Norlock added.

The PHCHCC goal to make the government conduct more health studies has been ineffective, noted the MP. The question remains how this group is helping the community by throwing out a report designed to make the community think its health is in peril, he added.

Health and welfare is not just preventing illness, he explained. It's also about "having a job, keeping the roof over your head and feeding the kids."

By aligning themselves (PHCHCC) with the NDP, the focus shifts from concern about health and safety to political motivation, said Mr. Norlock. To continue along this negative vein can only do harm to the Port Hope community, he concluded.