QUEEN’S PARK— Ontario MPPs passed a motion at Queen’s Park Thursday (Nov. 27) that endorses water fluoridation as a healthy and essential measure to minimizing tooth decay

Mississauga-Streetsville MPP Bob Delaney tabled the motion. The political statement comes in the face of some vocal community opposition to the practice in Peel region and a legal challenge.

Delaney told the legislature he was compelled to bring the motion forward after hearing concern municipalities might move away from water fluoridation and a number of candidates in the recent municipal election advocating for such a move.

Delaney referred to calls for an end to fluoridation as “egregiously stupid” and suggested advocates are proponents of “junk science”.

He introduced Halton-Peel dentists and members of the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) in the legislature gallery who had come in support of his motion.

Delaney also read from a 2012 report, published by Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Arlene King, which supports fluoridated drinking water.

“The fact is that tooth decay and gum disease are not only preventable, they’re easy to prevent,” Delaney said. “Fluoridation works just by having a drink of water, and it reaches everybody served by a fluoridated supply of municipal drinking water.”

The motion got immediate negative reaction from organized opponents of fluoridation and Liesa Cianchino, the plaintiff who has taken the Region of Peel to court in an effort to stop the municipal water treatment practice.

Cianchino is chair of the Concerned Residents of Peel to End Fluoridation, founding member of the Worldwide Alliance to End Fluoridation and board member of Moms Against Fluoridation. She and the organizations believe artificial water fluoridation “is a serious health concern” and the region’s practice is both unconstitutional and illegal.

“It’s high time that the region looked at the science and end this unsafe, unproven, unethical, unnatural and harmful practice,” Cianchino has said.