PARRY SOUND – Parry Sounders have spoken; they do not want their drinking water fluoridated.

More than 1,500 people said they do not want their municipal water fluoridated, while another 882 still wanted the chemical in the water.

Joe Moloney, chair of Parry Sounders for Progressive Water Management said democracy and the people of Parry Sound have had their voices heard.

“We are, as a group very happy it’s over and done with now and democracy spoken. People had time to do their own research and make their own opinions and democracy spoke,” Moloney said. “We couldn’t be happier … we’re very happy this toxic waste isn’t going to be put in our water.

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jim Chirico, who did a deputation to council and wrote several letters in opposition of fluoride removal from the town’s water was unhappy with the results.

“We are disappointed the dental health of the Parry Sound community, and most especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged, has not been prioritized,” he wrote in an email on Oct. 22. “Tonight’s vote demonstrates that there is still more work to do to inform the community of the positive impact fluoride in the water can have on reducing the burden of poor dental health.”

More than two years ago, the Town of Parry Sound overturned its June 2015 resolution for improvements to its Tony Agnello Water Treatment Plant; the upgrades would have been necessary to continue fluoridating the municipal water supply.

When the original report came to council in 2015, upgrades to the plant were about $250,000. Today, that cost would be “considerably more” said town director of public works, Peter Brown.

The town had been fluoridating its water since the 1960s.

After a lengthy period of debate, that included a campaign by an anti-fluoride group, Parry Sounders for Progressive Water Management, fluoridation of the town’s water supply ended temporarily on March 18, 2016, under the condition that the question would be asked on the municipal election ballot, asking Parry Sound ratepayers whether they wanted the town to continue to fluoridate their water.

*Original article online at https://www.parrysound.com/news-story/8981258-fluoride-is-out-of-parry-sound-water-for-good/

Note from FAN: Some of the letters published in the paper

• Oct 17, 2018, Parry Sounders have a say whether or not they want fluoridation this time, by Hardy Limeback, DDS, PhD