Ontario Medical Officer of Health Arlene King told a legislative committee Tuesday she wants more information about health effects of wind turbines.

That's different than what a Ministry of Health spokesman told The Sun Times was King's position Tuesday, that there's no link between the noise turbines make and adverse health effects.

David Jensen also said government rules covering placement of turbines and reviews of scientific literature are enough to determine a moratorium on new wind farms is not needed.

But a transcript of the doctor's comments from the standing committee on estimates at Queen's Park shows King's mind is not made up.

"What we'll be doing, when time permits -- and I have to say when time permits -- is having a thorough discussion with all of the medical officers of health in this province about the existing information we have on any possible health effects related to wind turbines and determining whether any additional research needs to be done," Dr. King told the committee Tuesday.

Given the current demands placed on her time by the H1N1 pandemic, she said she will be in a better position to say more "in a couple of months."

Today the legislature will debate and vote on a private member's non-binding resolution by Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch calling for a provincewide moratorium on any new wind farm projects.

Murdoch's resolution essentially calls for a freeze on such development until King determines if there are health risks associated with living near the turbines.

Citizens at more than a half dozen public forums in Grey- Bruce, to rally support against wind farms, have complained of severe headaches, sleeplessness, tinnitus or ringing in the ears and joint and muscle aches.

Murdoch said he issued his call after reading in The Sun Times about Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hazel Lynn's wind turbine concerns and that she had no jurisdiction to investigate.

Yesterday, Murdoch alleged the Ministry of Health "lied to you guys Tuesday)" about King's position on wind turbine health effects.

"It just means that she doesn't know and if our resolution passes then that puts pressure on her to find out."

Beth Harrington, a spokeswoman for Wind Concerns Ontario, said King's comments signify that King hasn't had an opportunity to study the issue in depth.

"What it says to me also is that the people at the Ministry of Health, I think may be putting words in her mouth. And that's deeply concerning," Harrington said.

"It would seem to me that Dr. King should be allowed to speak for herself when she is ready to speak for herself."

The year-old provincial group questions the value and costs of wind turbines. It wants independent studies into the health concerns raised by people who live near them.

The coalition has organized a rally at Queen's Park which was scheduled for 11 a. m. today in support of Murdoch's resolution.

"I think you have to understand that the people of rural Ontario are hoping that just this moment alone will bring light to what's going on," the former CBC broadcaster said.

The group represents 39 rural Ontario groups, including at least three from Grey-Bruce, concerned about wind energy. Two large-scale wind-powered generation sites are in operation in Bruce County -- Enbridge Ontario Wind Farm near Underwood and Ripley South.

Harrington said more than 100 people who live near wind farms in Ontario are "suffering because of wind turbines."

"There are people who get in their cars at night and drive to shopping mall parking lots so they can sleep because wind turbines are driving them crazy."

The lobby group is also critical of the Liberal government's Green Energy Act, because municipalities have lost control over wind farm development and environmental processes were streamlined in the face of concerns.

Dr. King also told the committee Tuesday she'd just had a meeting that day with the Ontario Agency for Health Protection on the wind turbine issue.

King, responding to questions from Tory MPP Christine Elliott, the Opposition deputy leader and health critic, said she has not yet arrived at a formal position on whether wind turbines cause ill health effects.

King also said: "I understand there is a research chair being established here in the province to address these kinds of issues. That will in fact enable us to be able to do more research on this issue . . . "

King would not comment on whether it was important that she reach a conclusion on that before any new wind projects are built.