Mayors and councillors from across the province are considering calling for a moratorium on BC Hydro's smart meters after hearing the health concerns of their residents.
A small group of protesters gathered outside the Vancouver Convention Centre Monday, calling on delegates at the annual convention of the Union of B.C. Municipalities to stop BC Hydro from installing the meters in every home.
"I believe the Liberal government is risking the health of the public. I think that we've become political pawns," Una St. Clair of Citizens for Safe Technology told CTV News.
The meters are meant to monitor power use more accurately in the hopes of conserving electricity, but some people say the meters are dangerous because they use wireless radio frequencies and emit radiation.
Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan says he hears about the meters daily.
"A lot of concern from our residents is how safe are the meters, and quite a bit of information has been provided both ways really," he said.
BC Hydro, which is sponsoring the UBCM meeting, says that the smart meters are completely safe, but some municipal politicians are pushing for a moratorium. On Thursday, delegates will vote on the idea.
But many mayors don't seem particularly concerned.
"I don't see them any different than sitting in front of your computer at home," Elkford Mayor Dean McKerracher said of the meters.
Even if the politicians vote in favour of a moratorium, it wouldn't be binding, and about 100,000 smart meters have already been installed in homes across the province.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Rob Brown
