Province votes against municipal fluoride ban

Move largely symbolic but could precede legislation to make treatment obligatory

The province has put municipalities on notice that it doesn’t support any move to remove fluoride from tap water.

While a resolution — recently passed in the legislature with the support of all parties — is not binding, it doesn’t mean the vote has no teeth.

“I wanted this to be a much sharper resolution, to send even my own minister a very clear message that it is the will of the House, not once but twice . . . (to) move ahead with legislation that makes it mandatory — and that was, in fact, the opinion of the House,” MPP Bob Delaney said.

Peel Region, which encompasses his Mississauga—Streetsville riding, is now studying the issue, with some councillors pushing to eliminate fluoride. Delaney said it’s been an issue in Peel for a few years. The evidence in support of fluoridation is “clear, comprehensive and conclusive,” he said.

However, in recent years, some municipalities have ceased the practice, spurred by opponents who cite fears of dental fluorosis (staining or pitting from too much fluoride), as well as bone or neurological damage and cancer.

The new resolution states that the province update both the Fluoridation Act and the Ontario Municipal Act “that allow a municipality to either opt out of fluoridation of its drinking water, once the process has started, or to fail to start the fluoridation of municipal drinking water,” Delaney said in the legislature.

The province will also work with cities and towns with funding to either begin or upgrade fluoridation systems.