Pat McNair, co-ordinator for Fluoride Free Hamilton is shocked at Thursday’s 9 -1 decision to re-fluoridate Hamilton’s water supply. “The Hamilton City Council has now made a complete mockery of its own tribunal process, which was so well conducted last year,” she said.

“At the time of the tribunal, the Council did not just vote fluoride out, but it published its findings and its main reasons in the free City News flyer which was posted to every household in Hamilton in June 2013. These reasons included:

– Toothpaste is much more effective than fluoridation of water supplies.

– 99% of household water goes down the drain.

– Communities around the world are rejecting it – most of Europe does not fluoridate.

– There is strong evidence that fluoride should not be ingested at all by babies under six months old and bottle-fed babies are therefore at greater potential risk.

– While fluoridation may have some benefits for some, it isn’t good for everyone and fluoridation of the water supply affects personal choice.

– It is cheaper for people to get fluoride as needed, and in an effective manner, than it is for people to avoid it from the public water supply.

– There is statistical evidence that fluoridation potentially causes harm.”

Ms McNair angrily challenged the councillors at Thursday’s council meeting to explain to her how they now proposed to tell the public that these reasons had become invalid and that they would now be disregarding them, without expecting challenges or ridicule as a result.

“I see an analogy here – this is like a court finding a criminal guilty, based on damning evidence. Suddenly there is a huge public outcry lead by the media. Misinformation spreads like wildfire. The media publishes an opinion poll. The public is invited to decide – guilty or not. None of the evidence presented at the original trial is divulged to the public. The popular vote is overwhelmingly “not guilty” so the criminal is immediately released.”

“Does our legal system work like this? Of course not – but this is just what has happened in Hamilton.”