City council hasn’t heard enough about fluoride, apparently.
After 90 minutes of debate, council voted 6-2 on Monday to do more public consultation on whether to continue fluoridating the city’s water. Staff are expected to bring back a report on their findings sometime in the fall.
Ahead of any decision on removing fluoride, council did take action on the amount of fluoride included in the city’s water.
In a unanimous vote, council agreed to reduce the amount of fluoride to 0.7 milligrams per litre from 0.8 milligrams, in keeping with the latest Health Canada recommendations.
The new fluoride levels will likely not take effect for many months because the city must get permission from the province to change its water licence.
Council has been wrestling with the fluoride question for months and the results of previous consultation efforts show the public remains deeply split on the issue.
There are also significant differences of opinion among residents about how they want council to settle the issue. A survey that drew 511 responses found 48 per cent want a decision based on in-depth public consultation. Another 31.1 per cent want council to decide based on the information they have, and 26.4 per cent want the issue settled by plebiscite.
Council debated whether to include a plebiscite on the next municipal ballot in 2013, but reached no firm decision. There was little support for holding a plebiscite outside a municipal election, which would carry a price tag in the range of $100,000 to $150,000.
Coun. Lynne Mulder questioned why a decision on whether to go to a plebiscite had to be made now. It could be considered after hearing more from the public, she said.
Mulder said she wants to see more consultation and public education about fluoride. “I support that 1,000 per cent.”
City manager Craig Curtis doubted the value of a plebiscite, saying, “I have yet to see a really successful one.”
It could also turn the election into a one-issue campaign, he said.
City staff had recommended council create a “community jury” of up to two dozen residents picked to represent a cross-section of the community. That idea did not find much favour among councillors.
“The issue is probably not the best one to call a jury on,” said Coun. Cindy Jefferies, who supported more consultation and education ahead of council making a final decision.
Also at issue was how much council should spend getting more input. Council was asked to consider spending up to $30,000, but Coun. Chris Stephan proposed an amendment reducing that to $10,000. It was defeated on a tie vote with Jefferies, Mulder, Frank Wong, and Buck Buchanan opposed to the reduction.
The motion to spend up to $30,000 passed with Councillors Stephan and Paul Harris opposed.
Mayor Morris Flewwelling was absent from Monday’s meeting.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com