Thread by @AlexanderQuon

Good afternoon #yqr and followers of #yqrcc it's Wednesday and that means City Council is meeting at 1 p.m.

On the agenda today is the third and final reading of the bylaw banning conversion therapy. Background can be found linked below. @CBCSask
cbc.ca/news/canada/sa…

Another topic of interest on the agenda. The flouridation of Regina's water. @HeidiAtter has that teed up here:
cbc.ca/news/canada/sa…

Some key context for the bylaw on conversion therapy. There's not going to be any real debate/presentations on the topic. If there are it won't be anything like in previous council meetings.

The topic is likely going to be an up and down vote.

Colleague and friend @HeidiAtter also has a good recap of what else is on the agenda.

https://twitter.com/HeidiAtter/status/1425457565509595136

Unfortunately, I will not be live-tweeting this entire meeting.

Council is currently asking questions of Dr. Lanre Medu about the benefits of flouridation of water in Regina.

Medu: This levels the playing field for those who may not have good oral hygiene or access to oral hygiene.

"Community fluoridation is effective," says Gerry Uswak, professor at the U of S college of dentistry.

"One of the top 10 public health initiatives in history," he says quoting the CDC on fluoridation.

"Community fluoridation is the right decision for Regina," Uswak concludes.

Coun. Mohl: The Lancet says flouride is a neurodevelopmental toxin. Why would we put a toxin in our water?

Uswak: Chlorine gas was used in WWII to kill people. We now use chlorine in pools. Why would we use that? Well its a conversation around degrees of use.

Coun. Mohl has been asking every expert the same question: "Do humans need fluoride?"

The medical experts have so far been flummoxed by the framing of the question. All have said that fluoridated water is a net benefit to society.

We've heard from two individuals who are opposed to fluoridation.

They don't represent organizations and represent themselves.

Neither of them have identified themselves as medically trained experts on this subject.

Coun. Mohl to one of the individuals who is opposed to fluoridation: "You sound very educated on this subject."

Mayor Masters: How do you reconcile with the fact that you are referring to a scientific process in your opposition when the organizations supporting fluoridation are made up of hundreds of experts and are essentially every dental organization in the province and Canada?

Individual opposed to fluroridation: I am at risk of this treatment and am concerned so I am doing research on my own. I'm calling for more research to be done.

Shelby Hamm is the registrar of the Saskatchewan Dental Hygienists' Association. The organization endorses the proposed fluoridation.

Regina City Council has been told to "follow the money" to understand why fluoridation is endorsed by many expert organizations.

This is up for a vote now.

Coun. Hawkins: You've heard two stories this afternoon. One backed by the overwhelming scientific consensus and the experts in this province. That is that fluoridation is safe and effective.

The other side says it will be a waste of money and dangerous. They aren't experts.

Coun Hawkins cont.: What story are you going to believe?

Hawkins: "Uniquely we are living in a moment which scientists... have saved hundreds of thousands of lives in the past 18 months by inventing a vaccine... that's why when I make my choice is that the credible choice are [the experts]."

Coun. Hawkins: We don't ask the community to deal with the referendum on community health issues. We have been elected to deal with this and make an informed decision.

Coun. Hawkins: What could be more compelling when speaking of precaution than saving the integrity of the teeth of our young people?

Coun. Stadnichuk is going to be a yes on this motion.

Talks about the City of Windsor voting to remove fluoridation. Five years later when they checked in on the results the city found the urgent needs of kids were not being met despite public campaigns about oral hygiene.

Windsor is now reintroducing fluoride, Stadnichuk says.

Coun. Bresciani says she will support the motion because of the science presented today as well as her personal experience with her special needs child.

She said her experience w/ seeing other families under similar circumstances struggled with oral hygiene broke her heart.

Says this will help families of low income as well as the generations to income.

Coun. Findura reserves decision and says he'll listen to the continued debate.

Coun. Mohl is up.

Coun. Mohl is reading a response letter to an ATIP request into the record that he reportedly received right before the meeting.

If the response he's reading is accurate the ATIP request was worded to request data regarding provincial testing results.

(That wouldn't be something that Health Canada would necessarily have)

Mohl wants an amendment to put this topic to a referendum.

"This is everyone's drinking water,' he said.

COun. Findura seconded that amendment motion because he believes it's important to debate every motion on the floor in public.

Says he wants to give the residents of Regina a choice.

Coun. Daniel LeBlanc says he's speaking against the motion for a referendum.

Says we do not have competing experts there are experts and nonexperts (he points out that all of those who spoke against fluoridation are not dental experts)

Coun. Mancinelli says he won't support a referendum and will likely support the fluoridation motion. Said he feels the evidence presented by the fluoridation detractors was misleading.

Coun. Findura and Mohl are the only ones to vote for the amendment on a referendum.

Vote on fluoridation passes 10 to 1 with Mohl the sole vote of opposition. #yqrcc