Don’t shoot the chlorination messenger
Re: The chlorination debate
The recent discussions regarding warnings by Fraser Health for the need to chlorinate Chilliwack’s water has taken a curious turn. The mayor, council and some public opinion are intent on “shooting the messenger” it seems.
Fraser Health (FH) is a government agency, administered by a government appointed board whose role is to administer the Public Health Act which includes the Drinking Water Protection Act (laws made by the provincial government)as well as related federal laws. Fraser Health employs health professional whose role is to protect our health proactively, when possible.
The support of several public petitions against chlorination seems to indicate that some of the public wants to make the decision of what is good for our collective health. According to media reports the mayor and council wants serious health problems to be evident before they are prepared to take the FH recommendations to chlorinate drinking water. They seem not to understand that the “science” has been done long ago and is the basis for the warning.
Purely by coincidence this controversy has appeared a few months before our provincial election and part of the city is represented by the party in power (the one that passed the acts), another part by the official opposition. It is a good time to remind our representatives that they represent us. The MP of choice’s name and phone number are in the phone book. Rather than shooting the messenger (FH) I would suggest that the public turn to our provincial politicians who have the power to make changes in Fraser Health and the Public Health Act if change is warranted.
Victor Froese
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