Montreal blocks nearby fluoridation

MONTREAL - Officials in Montreal are refusing to allow the nearby city of Dorval, in southwestern Quebec, to fluoridate its water supply unless the provincial government steps in. Darren Becker, a spokesperson for Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay's administration, said in the story that Montreal disapproves of the fluoridation plan because there is not a consensus on the health benefits of fluoride. Montreal "doesn't plan to act until Quebec forces the issue and for now, they haven't," Becker was quoted as saying in the article. The Agglomeration Council, which is headed by Tremblay and consists of 31 elected officials representing all municipalities in the Montreal region, recently blocked Dorval, located in the western part of the region, from upgrading its water treatment system to allow for fluoridation, the report noted. Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau said in the story that the Agglomeration Council abused its power, adding that he is meeting with provincial officials to try to work out a compromise.