A number of cities admit that they’re floundering without direction. Sammy Forcillo, who is responsible for Montreal’s water management, argues that “it is not the responsibility of the city of Montreal to decide on scientific issues.” Forcillo says he’s asked the province to “assume its public health responsibilities and adopt legislation that will direct communities in this matter.” Clark Somerville, city councillor in Halton Hills, Ont., whose council is reconsidering fluoridation, agrees. “There’s no standard across the country,” he points out. “If fluoride was something that was that great, you’d think the federal government would mandate it.”
In the meantime, back in Sarnia, officials await an update to the technical guidelines document for drinking water from Health Canada—which Cooney says will “hang very closely” to the expert panel’s recommendations—with the hope that it will cast new light on the fluoride question. Some would rather get the ball rolling. But by Mayor Bradley’s calculation, the city has been debating fluoride for 75 years. So the issue can hold, officials say, for a few more months at least.
With Nicholas Köhler
