A group newly formed to promote the health and welfare of Port Hope has invited local MP Rick Norlock to receive today a petition signed by more than 3,000 local residents, which he will officially table in Parliament.

The Citizens for Port Hope formed after the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee and Uranium Medical Research Centre announced uranium contamination had been found in nine Port Hope residents subjected to contaminated soils and former Eldorado, Cameco, and/or Zircatec workers; the group held a rally November 21 to gather signatures on the petition in a show of civic pride.

The public statement declares that Port Hope constituents have demonstrated that preserving the municipality's reputation as a safe place to live, work and play is an issue of great importance to them - one which must be addressed at a federal level in order to respond to a campaign of damaging information recently disseminated by a special interest group and propagated in the national media.

Following today's press conference, Mr. Norlock is to walk through downtown, visiting and speaking with local merchants in a show of support for the municipality.

The press conference is to take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Port Hope Town Hall, 56 Queen St.