Canada - City to keep fluoride in water

City to keep fluoride in water
But one more vote on the issue will come May 1
By CHIP MARTIN The London Free Press
Last Updated: April 23, 2012 9:00pm
Email StoryPrintSize A A AReport TypoShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on diggShare on favoritesShare on googleMore Sharing Services.Anti-fluoride activists left London city hall disappointed Monday after a civic committee backed the continued treatment of city water.
Catcalls and heckling greeted politicians who spoke in favour of staying the course that began in 1967 when Londoners voted to fluoridate.
But one more vote on the issue will come May 1 when city council considers endorsement by its civic works committee.
“I think council will shut down fluoridation in its vote,” Coun. Dale Henderson predicted, adding “we’re poisoning our water system.”
He drew sustained applause but he isn’t a member of the committee and couldn’t vote.
So lobbying will continue a few more days.
The committee was presented with a petition Coun. Stephen Orser said contained 1,414 signatures of Londoners demanding an immediate halt to fluoridation.
Orser, acting as deputy mayor while Mayor Joe Fontana promotes London in Korea, Japan and China, said he wants to be able to tell his daughter the city is no longer trying to poison her. He said he buys her bottled water.
The Ward 4 councillor said failing an immediate ban, the city should ask voters in a plebiscite at the 2014 election to determine its fate.
“The fairest thing is to let the people decide,” Orser insisted.
About 60 anti-fluoride activists watched the debate, and some had to be warned to behave or face eviction.
In a report, city administration addressed concerns about health and other issues raised at a public meeting in January.
City staff recommended continued treatment of city water with fluoride because it prevents cavities and because the practice is recommended by bodies such as the World Health Organization, Health Canada, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health and the Middlesex-London Health Unit.......