Canada - Peel council temporarily ends all delegations on contentious water fluoridation issue Committee endorsed water treatment practice

The endless flow of delegations on water fluoridation has been temporarily shut off at Peel Region council.

During a meeting March 30, councillors decided they had heard enough for now and put a moratorium on presentations from the public.

Mississauga Coun. Carolyn Parrish, who chaired the community water fluoridation committee, tabled the motion to stop two scheduled delegations and future presentations until the province responds to questions issued by the region.

The committee was established more than a year ago to review the health benefits of water fluoridation and recommend a regional position on the long-standing practice.

Last month, Peel council members unanimously voted to continue adding fluoride to municipal drinking water.

The region also requested the provincial government test toxicity levels of the local water additive and assume responsibility for administering municipal water fluoridation in Ontario.

Until the province offers a response or the committee reconvenes, listening to more delegations “is really not productive at this time,” said Parrish.

Anti-fluoride lobbyists who had come to speak to council were not pleased with the decision to suspend all delegations.

“Shame on you. Shame on you all,” said Fluoride Free Peel spokesperson Christine Massey, who was scheduled to speak, but was ushered out by security.