Fluoride Referendum Called; Backgrounder

By a vote of 4-2, Council decided Tuesday to suspend the
implementation of fluoride in Dryden’s drinking water and hold another
referendum on the issue this year.
Fluoride was removed from the City’s water supply in 2001.
Council rejected reintroducing the chemical in November 2004.
The Health Unit submited an 1,100 signature petition forcing the issue to come forward in a November 2006 referendum.
Dryden residents then voted 56% in favour of putting fluoride back in the water.
Last month, a group of residents opposed to fluoride presented Council with a roughly 1,000
signature petition calling on the City to hold another vote.
Opponents claim the Health Unit used public funds to campaign in favour of the fluoride issue
last November and also cite safety concerns and high costs to implement fluoride.
Supporters insist the chemical is safe and cheap and note tooth decay rates among area youth have
gone up considerably over the years.
More information on the timing of a referendum is expected to be
released at the August 27th Council meeting.