More than 100 people gathered Wednesday night at the Sisters of Saint Martha Convent in Charlottetown to protest the construction of a cell phone tower in the area.
'We don't have cell towers in residential areas. It doesn't make any sense.'вЂ" Coun. David MacDonald
Rogers Wireless is building the tower in a field that backs on to the convent and a row of houses along Mount Edward Road. City council voted against the project, but was overruled by Industry Canada.
Speaking at the protest, Coun. David MacDonald said Industry Canada shouldn't be allowed to overrule city council, and city planning should be left to local governments.
"Municipal governments are in place to look after the interests of the residents, and to ensure that municipalities are planned and orderly, and when planning does take place, it is done in such a way that protects the health of the residents, protects the freedom of the residents to enjoy their property and also ensures that there's clusters in community planning," said MacDonald.
"We have industrial areas, commercial areas, we have residential areas … we don't have cell towers in residential areas. It doesn't make any sense."
MacDonald said council proposed several alternative sites to Rogers, but the company decided the current location off Mount Edward Road was the best one.
