Cellular towers sprouting around Canadian churches

Churches across Canada are erecting massive cellphone towers on their properties as cash-strapped congregations help feed the country's insatiable desire for cellularcoverage, CBC's John Lancaster reports.

Dartmouth, N.S., Port Sandfield, Ont.,Mississauga, Ont.,andCalgary are among the communities that have seen the huge towers erected on church propertysometimes disguised as crosses.

AtDeer Park United Church in Calgary,Rev. Tom Melvin says the tower therebrings in thousands of dollars.

The "lease is $20,000 a year, five-year contract that's renewable, with a 20 per cent escalator every time it's renewed," he says.

Church cell towers have sparked debate in some communities over perceived health concerns or the devaluing of nearby properties.

In Mississauga, Ont., a gleaming whitetower disguised as a crosssoars 30 metres into the air, dwarfing the tiny church below.

Mississauga Coun. Pat Mullin says she's seen enough.

"My problem is how many more are going to be parachuted in? This is a residential community, you can see what an eyesore that is. Theseare huge."

Bernard Lord, president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, saysit's acase of supply anddemand.

"Canadians consume more data, voice and text than virtually any other place in the world," says Lord, a formerpremier of New Brunswick. "We want that to continue. We want Canada to be at the leading edge of the mobile digital economy, not laggers."

To see Lancaster's full report, click the above video.