November 23, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

In recent days, there has been much media attention focused on the issue of trihalomethanes (THMs) in community water supplies in this province. Health Canada officials and medical officers of health for this province have provided information to the public on this issue.

The reporting of this information has caused some confusion for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

The issue of THMs is not an easily understood one. Research continues into the health effects of these chlorination byproducts, and accordingly new information continually becomes available. This government works with Health Canada to ensure it is properly distributed. It is important to know that research on this issue is in no way final.

I cannot stress strongly enough the importance of continuing to chlorinate drinking water. We have been working with Health Canada on this issue and in fact, moments ago, received a letter from an ADM with the Environmental Health Branch of Health Canada. I will now read from the letter:

Text of the letter from Health Canada.

1999 11 23 2:45 p.m.