PHCHCC - Lack of Respect

Right off the top, I want to say that if residents of Port Hope are being contaminated by Cameco’s emissions, then corrective actions must be taken by Health Canada.
But I am still incensed about the way the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) released its study findings, which said four of nine people tested have uranium (that Cameco denies processing), in their urine, on Tuesday morning.
I’m upset because the group chose to hold a press conference in Toronto, away from Port Hope residents like myself, the media, and proper questions.
I’m upset because they didn’t even have the courtesy to send this newspaper an invite to the press conference.
I’m upset because they still haven’t given me, my wife, my daughter, my neighbours and 16,000 other Port Hope residents — the very people they say they’re protecting — the opportunity to see this report and ask pertinent questions about it.
I’m upset because the national media took the bait — hook, line and sinker — and sensationalized a story that is just another study in a long line of studies, with little research, little knowledge and absolutely no balance — just as the PHCHCC surely hoped.
I’m upset because Faye More, chairwoman of the PHCHCC, didn’t have the decency to contact us, despite the fact she was on a media blitz.
I’m upset because we had to beg somebody at the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper’s office to send us the PowerPoint presentation, just so we could have a story in Wednesday’s paper. Surely a committee with the best interests of Port Hope residents in mind would afford a local media outlet, the municipality and Cameco, this luxury, to keep residents informed.
I’m upset because the chance of a Port Hoper selling their house to somebody living outside Northumberland County just became slim for the next couple of months
I’m upset because the chances of a much-needed large employer opening up shop in Port Hope have decreased, because who would endanger the lives of future employees and their children, after seeing our national broadcaster show a clip of a man saying you could be “damn sure” Port Hope’s water is also contaminated, despite excessive testing by the Ontario Ministry of Environment, as well as the municipality, that states otherwise (that point was overlooked in the TV report)?
I’m upset because this citizens’ group didn’t show the people of Port Hope one iota of respect and may have done far more damage to the town than Cameco ever has, with one press conference.
I’m just upset.