Transition Halton Region to a Modern Dental Care Model by Ending Water Fluoridation
Transition Halton Region to a Modern Dental Care Model by Ending Water Fluoridation
The Issue
To the Halton Regional Chair and Council,
We, the residents of Halton Region, formally request the immediate cessation of hydrofluosilicic acid (fluoride) addition to our municipal drinking water supply. While water fluoridation was adopted decades ago with good intentions, the landscape of public health and dental care in Canada has fundamentally changed, rendering universal mass-medication of our water supply both redundant and ethically problematic.
Our demand is based on the following three pillars:
1. The Advent of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): With the full implementation of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, the primary historical justification for water fluoridation—providing dental care to low-income populations—has been replaced by a superior, targeted model. Residents now have access to professional, clinical dental care where fluoride can be applied topically and at controlled doses by professionals, rather than through a one-size-fits-all systemic delivery in our water.
2. Protection of Vulnerable Populations: Recent scientific literature, including studies published in The Lancet, highlights that systemic fluoride exposure can pose risks to thyroid function and bone health, particularly for pregnant women, children, and those with kidney disease. Halton’s current levels (recorded as high as 0.81 mg/L in the 2025 Water Reports) hover near the thresholds where these endocrine and skeletal concerns become significant. A 2019 study published in JAMA Pediatrics by York University researchers found that a 1 mg increase in a pregnant woman`s urinary fluoride was associated with a 3.7 - point IQ decrease in her child.
3. Upholding Bioethical Standards: Every resident has the right to informed consent regarding the medications they ingest. Universal water fluoridation removes this right, forcing a systemic chemical exposure on all citizens regardless of their health status or personal choice.
The Action We Request: We call upon the Halton Regional Council to follow the lead of other modern municipalities by voting to remove fluoride from our water treatment process, thereby prioritizing individual autonomy and utilizing the CDCP as our primary tool for promoting oral health equity.
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The Issue
To the Halton Regional Chair and Council,
We, the residents of Halton Region, formally request the immediate cessation of hydrofluosilicic acid (fluoride) addition to our municipal drinking water supply. While water fluoridation was adopted decades ago with good intentions, the landscape of public health and dental care in Canada has fundamentally changed, rendering universal mass-medication of our water supply both redundant and ethically problematic.
Our demand is based on the following three pillars:
1. The Advent of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): With the full implementation of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, the primary historical justification for water fluoridation—providing dental care to low-income populations—has been replaced by a superior, targeted model. Residents now have access to professional, clinical dental care where fluoride can be applied topically and at controlled doses by professionals, rather than through a one-size-fits-all systemic delivery in our water.
2. Protection of Vulnerable Populations: Recent scientific literature, including studies published in The Lancet, highlights that systemic fluoride exposure can pose risks to thyroid function and bone health, particularly for pregnant women, children, and those with kidney disease. Halton’s current levels (recorded as high as 0.81 mg/L in the 2025 Water Reports) hover near the thresholds where these endocrine and skeletal concerns become significant. A 2019 study published in JAMA Pediatrics by York University researchers found that a 1 mg increase in a pregnant woman`s urinary fluoride was associated with a 3.7 - point IQ decrease in her child.
3. Upholding Bioethical Standards: Every resident has the right to informed consent regarding the medications they ingest. Universal water fluoridation removes this right, forcing a systemic chemical exposure on all citizens regardless of their health status or personal choice.
The Action We Request: We call upon the Halton Regional Council to follow the lead of other modern municipalities by voting to remove fluoride from our water treatment process, thereby prioritizing individual autonomy and utilizing the CDCP as our primary tool for promoting oral health equity.
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Petition created on May 2, 2026