Editor,

Many people have asked if I could explain why the request to include the Fluoride question on the next municipal ballot was rejected, so these are the facts I have been given as the reason. I must admit that I and all who spoke to me cannot understand the process.

Starting last spring a small group of concerned people began collecting signatures on a petition to council that the question, "are you in favour of the discontinuance of the fluoridation of the public water supply of this municipality?" be placed on the 2018 Municipal Election Ballot.

To qualify to sign the petition a person had to be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, not in prison, a corporation, executor or trustee.

The council required that 10% of the voters list, or 1589 signatures were needed.

Primarily by going door to door, or speaking to small groups 2232 signatures were collected. That meant we had 643 extra names. We were careful to ask that the signers met these requirements. The lists were then given to City Hall to be verified as meeting these qualifications. So you can imagine our shock when we told that the petition was 275 signatures short and therefore could not be accepted. TO REACH THAT CONCLUSION THE STAFF HAD TO DISQUALIFY 918 signatures!

The problem seems to have come from the documents that were used to check each name, age and address on the petition. The primary one was MPAC which is a list of property owners who pay municipal property tax. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE RENTERS.

They also went back to the 2014 voter's list, but in 4 years how many people have become old enough to vote? Or how many people have moved into Owen Sound? Or how many people have moved their living location? None of these people would match that list. Or how many people might have signed the petition using their commonly used name but are on the voter's list under their official name? I personally would be rejected for three of these reasons.

People were extremely concerned about this subject and are expressing their dissatisfaction with the way it was handled by Council. The saddest thing is that for 4 more years the population of Owen Sound will be drinking this neurotoxic drug, and suffering from many health problems caused by it! The cost of dealing with all these health problems far outweighs the money saved in preventing childhood cavities which are better dealt with by surface application. For more on this subject check Scotland's Child Smile Project, www.child-smile.org.uk.

Sandra Barker
Owen Sound