Parry Sound-Muskoka Green Party

After re-reading the comments in last Friday's Weekender article on the fluoride debate, I felt that it was important to address some missing components in the report presented by the representatives of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.  I was disappointed the SMDHU did not cite the source of fluoride that is added to the District of Muskoka'd drinking water.  Perhaps an oversight?

Currently, the fluoride that is added to the district drinking water is trucked to Muskoka from a London, Ontario-based phosphate fertilizer plant.  However, it has been claimed that this phosphate fertilizer byproduct is a toxic substance and should not be confused with naturally occurring calcium fluoride.    I think it is crucial that the public be given a confirmation into this particular matter. 

Meanwhile, other relevant questions have surfaced:  How much money is the district paying for this substance? Is the public allowed to view the process of the fluoride being dumped into our drinking water? Why are tooth decay rates in Ontario relatively similar  Quebec (over 75 per cent of water is fluoridated in Ontario and under eight per cent in Quebec)?

If fluoride is to protect our teeth, why do we ingest it? We would never protect our skin from the sun by drinking sunscreen.

The cost is quite prohibitive for a homeowner to install a system to remove the fluoride from public drinking water.  How does the district address the wishes of people who want the fluoride removed from their water? Why is it that almost every European country does not fluoridate?

Plenty of questions needing genuine responses.  Let's keep the discussion going.

Matt Richter
Provincial Green Party Candidate
Parry Sound-Muskoka