Scientific Papers

The John Ball Legacy Project & The Pursuit of Justice for the Former General Electric Workers of Peterborough, Ontario

To address the outbreak of occupational cancers developed by the former workers of the Peterborough General Electric (GE) production facility, and more specifically the denial of many justified compensation claims submitted to Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, this research, in partnership with the John Ball Legacy Project, aims to identify the best approach to determining compensation for those workers who became ill yet have not received compensation or justice. Read more

Peterborough Health Study GE Canada Final Report

This study was initiated due to concerns identified through the CAW/GE Joint Health and Safety Committee about possible excess cancer deaths among Peterborough plant employees. It was completed by R. Hosein PhD, an industrial hygienist in the employ of GE Canada.

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GE Peterborough Study

Steven Markowitz, M.D, Dr PH at the request of Mr. Joel Carr the national representative for UNIFOR reviewed the report in titled “Peterborough health study, GE Canada, final report.” Dr. Markowitz review indicates that overall the GE study is of mediocre quality. It indicates that phase 2 study was to poorly conducted to instill any faith in its results. The main problem for unsupported assumptions about exposure, limited statistical power even in relation to asbestos exposures, inappropriate use of non-lung cancer controls, and incomplete and question will call quality of smoking data. For more information, please read

The Report of the Advisory Committe on Retrospective Exposure Profiling of the Production Processes at the General Electric Production Facility in Peterborough, Ontario 1945-2000.

The purpose of this research project was to develop retrospective exposure profiles of the work processes at the GE electrical production facility in Peterborough, Ontario between 1945 and 2000. As such, it involved a systematic effort to collect and analyze empirical information about how production was carried out in this very complex heavy industrial operation.

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Using Scientific Evidence and Principles to Help Determine the Work-Relatedness of Cancer

Paul A. Demers, Ph.D. Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health.

Mandate of the review In January 2019, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) requested an independent review to provide advice to the Ministry on the following questions: 1. How can scientific evidence best be used in determining work-relatedness in an occupational cancer claim, particularly in cases with multiple exposures?

  1. Are there any best practices in other jurisdictions that Ontario should consider adopting?
  2. What scientific principles should inform the development of occupational disease policy?