Federal and corporate funding would help the Community Health Concerns Committee reach its financial goal of $30,000 and get tests conducted by the Uranium Medical Research Centre underway much sooner, CHCC chair Faye More says.

Headed by Dr. Asaf Durakovic, the Toronto- and Washington-based UMRC has promised to test various Port Hope residents for uranium contamination free of charge. Lab costs will have to be covered by those residents.

Ms. More said she fears residents may have been contaminated by uranium dust that may have been emitted by Eldorado Nuclear, a former Crown corporation now owned by Cameco Corporation.

So far neither the government nor Cameco Corporation has come forward to help, she said, adding the federal government has an obligation to Port Hope residents.

Slowly the funds have been coming in as the group raises funds on its own.

Testing could begin as early as this fall even without financial assistance, she said. But the project would have to be done on a modest scale.

“We remain hopeful that by the fall, maybe later in the fall, we will be able to undertake first steps — that is, if we have to fund raise ourselves,” Ms. More said. “The start point will differ with federal funding.”

UMRC has promised to remain on standby, she said.

“They will wait with us,” she said. “We appreciate their dedication to helping… and the donation of their services.”

CHCC last met with the federal health ministry in November 2004 in an attempt to get funding, Ms. More said. The group is attempting to set up another meeting in the near future.

Tedd Weyman of the UMRC will be at the CHCC annual meeting Mar. 23 at the Port Hope health unit, she said.

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