Item - 2011.HL3.1
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Board of Health on April 4, 2011 and was adopted with amendments.
HL3.1 - Water Fluoridation in Toronto
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Board Decision
The Board of Health:
1. Reaffirmed its position to continue the fluoridation of Toronto water.
2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to:
a. review all the material presented on April 4, 2011, including and especially the material presented by those critical of fluoridation, investigate and evaluate the various claims, and report back to the Board of Health as appropriate and as determined by the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Health; and
b. after concluding deliberations on the matter, direct the appropriate Toronto Public Health staff to prepare a public education piece that could be made available to residents and community organizations.
3. Forwarded the report (March 21, 2011) from the Medical Officer of Health to Health Canada; the Canadian Medical Association; the Ontario Medical Association; the Canadian Public Health Association; the Canadian Paediatric Society; the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, Ontario; the Ontario Dental Association; the Canadian Dental Hygienists' Association; the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care; the Chief Medical Officer of Health; and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Origin
Summary
Toronto's drinking water has been fluoridated since 1963. This report provides information on the regulatory framework for water fluoridation in Canada and Ontario, an overview of the effects of fluoride on reducing dental caries, a discussion about the safety and concerns with water fluoridation as well as an examination of the viability of alternate fluoride delivery methods.
Water fluoridation continues to be supported provincially, nationally and internationally as being the most cost-effective and equitable strategy for the prevention of dental caries. Discontinuing the fluoridation of Toronto water would reduce the oral health status of Torontonians and will result in increased costs for treatment of dental disease.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-36795.pdf
(April 4, 2011) Presentation from the Medical Officer of Health and Dr. Elizabeth Geller, Dentist, Toronto Public Health, on Water Fluoridation in Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-37050.pdf
(April 4, 2011) Information Package from the Medical Officer of Health
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-37062.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/comm/communicationfile-20542.pdf
(March 28, 2011) Letter from Bill Osmunson, President, Washington Action for Safe Water (HL.New.HL3.1.2)
(March 29, 2011) Letter from Gail Manning (HL.New.HL3.1.3)
(March 30, 2011) Letter from Dr. Peter Trainor, President, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (HL.New.HL3.1.4)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/comm/communicationfile-20718.pdf
(March 30, 2011) Letter from Dr. Michael J. Sigal, Professor and Head, Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto (HL.New.HL3.1.5)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/comm/communicationfile-20715.pdf
(March 30, 2011) Presentation from Dr. Paul Andrews, Assistant Professor, Graduate Clinic Director, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Toronto (HL.New.HL3.1.6)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/comm/communicationfile-20745.pdf
(March 30, 2011) Letter from Lynn Watt and Terence P.Watt (HL.New.HL3.1.7)
(March 31, 2011) E-mail from Carole Clinch (HL.New.HL3.1.8)
(March 31, 2011) Letter from James S. Beck, M.D., Ph.D. (HL.New.HL3.1.9)
(April 1, 2011) Letter from Dr. Regina Revuelta, President, Ontario Society of Paediatric Dentists (HL.New.HL3.1.10)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/comm/communicationfile-20746.pdf
(April 1, 2011) E-mail from Ruth McKay (HL.New.HL3.1.11)
(April 4, 2011) Letter from Gilles Parent, ND.A. (HL.New.HL3.1.12)
(April 3, 2011) Submission from Gerry W. Cooper, B.Eng., MBA, Public Policy Advisor, Toronto Coalition Against Fluoridation (HL.New.HL3.1.13)
(April 3, 2011) E-mail from Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg, M.E.S., Ph.D. (HL.New.HL3.1.14)
(April 4, 2011) E-mail from Dr. Hardy Limeback, B.Sc., Ph.D., D.D.S. (HL.New.HL3.1.15)
(April 1, 2011) Submission from Robert J. Fleming, Executive Director, Waterloo Watch, and President, Canadians Opposed to Fluoridation (HL.New.HL3.1.16)
(April 4, 2011) E-mail from Beth McLellan (HL.New.HL3.1.17)
(April 4, 2011) Submission from Aliss Terpstra, International Institute of Concern for Public Health (HL.New.HL3.1.18)
(April 4, 2011) Submission from Karen Buck, President, Ciitizens for a Safe Environment (HL.New.HL3.1.19)
(April 4, 2011) Submission from Dr. Arlene King, Chief Medical Officer of Health (HL.New.HL3.1.20)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/comm/communicationfile-20777.pdf
(April 4, 2011) Submission from Karen Buck, President, Citizens for a Safe Environment (HL.New.HL3.1.21)
(April 4, 2011) Submission from Ingrid Sheriff (HL.New.HL3.1.22)
(April 4, 2011) Submission from Sharon Howarth (HL.New.HL3.1.23)
Speakers
Linda McKay
Dr. Lynn Tomkins, President, Ontario Dental Association
Dr. Peter Trainor, President, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (Submission Filed)
Kim Ivan, RDH, President, Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association
Dr. Michael Sigal, Professor and Head, Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto (Submission Filed)
Dr. Paul Andrews, Graduate Clinic Director, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Department of Pediatric Dentistry (Submission Filed)
Andrew McDonald (Submission Filed)
Dr. Dick Ito, Past President, Ontario Association of Public Health Dentistry
Aliss Terpstra, International Institute of Concern for Public Health (Submission Filed)
Cindy Mayor
Ingrid Sheriff (Submission Filed)
Robert J. Fleming, Executive Director, WaterlooWatch and President, Canadians Opposed to Fluoridation (Submission Filed)
Gerry W. Cooper, B.Eng., MBA, Public Policy Advisor, Toronto Coalition Against Fluoridation (Submission Filed)
Sharon Howarth (Submission Filed)
Karen Buck, President, Citizens for a Safe Environment (Submission Filed)
Motions
That the report (March 21, 2011) from the Medical Officer of Health be forwarded to Health Canada; the Canadian Medical Association; the Ontario Medical Association; the Canadian Public Health Association; the Canadian Paediatric Society; the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, Ontario; the Ontario Dental Association; the Canadian Dental Hygienists' Association; the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care; the Chief Medical Officer of Health; and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
That the Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to:
a. review all the material presented on April 4, 2011, including and especially the material presented by those critical of fluoridation, investigate and evaluate the various claims, and report back to the Board of Health as appropriate and as determined by the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Health; and
b. after concluding deliberations on the matter, direct the appropriate Toronto Public Health staff to prepare a public education piece that could be made available to residents and community organizations.