Dear Ministers Kent and Aglukkaq,
Canada’s Chief Dental Officer Dr. Peter Cooney appears to be in a serious conflict of interest by not only representing the Canadian government at the United Nations environmental treaty on mercury conference, but by also simultaneously representing the European-based World Dental Federation or Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI), a private trade group funded by its “corporate partners”– major amalgam manufacturers and distributors Dentsply, Henry Schein Inc., and Ivoclar Vivadent.
United Nations Environment Programme Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 2) has convened a series of five conferences to put together the environmental treaty on mercury, a treaty that represents a chance for the world to rid itself of amalgam, and rid dentistry of mercury.
Dr. Cooney attended the second of these conferences, held in Japan in January 2011. Upon rising to speak, Cooney actually announced, “I am wearing two hats”! The fact that Canada’s Chief Dental Officer spoke on behalf of FDI also gives the organization undue authority, implying that it is government-backed when it is not. Cooney also used his title and influence to secure prime time slots for FDI presentations that private entities do not get.
Representing DI at INC 2 in Japan last year, Dr. Cooney participated in a disgusting example of FDI double-speak. According to FDI’s web site [I have highlighted questionable statements in red below],
“The FDI’s team is working in close co-operation with members of the International Association for Dental Research to articulate to the INC that dental amalgam currently constitutes an important element in maintaining and protecting global public health, as reflected in FDI General Assembly Resolution on Dental Amalgam (GA 2009) and Dental Amalgam Motion (GA 2010).
“Importantly, FDI made an intervention at the INC 2 plenary session highlighted strategies that phase up effective prevention for dental caries and associated health programmes that we believe will result in the phase down of restorative materials, including dental amalgam. This will lead to the reduction in the use of all dental restorative materials and ensure optimal oral health, particularly for those most disadvantaged and in need of treatment.”
This FDI statement undermines the more progressive stance of the Canadian government position, endorsed by Health Canada and in Environment Canada, which already indicates that dentists here should stop using amalgam on our children and our pregnant women. The fact that Canada’s Chief Dental Officer spoke on behalf of FDI gives the organization undue authority, implying that it is government-backed when it is not. Dr. Cooney also used his title and influence to secure prime time slots for FDI presentations that private entities do not get.
Along with many others, I request that you
- address the problems raised by Dr. Cooney’s use of his government position to lobby for FDI and to undermine stakeholders opposed by FDI.
I also need assurances that with respect to future FDI negotiations:
- that Dr. Cooney will not participate in the FDI delegation’s decision-making
- that he will not be permitted to attend future conferences to put together the environmental
treaty on mercury and in intersessional meetings with his incompatible “two hats,” and - that the damage he has already inflicted will be redressed.
We taxpayers do not know – but would like to know:
- if Cooney drew his government salary during these FDI negotiation sessions.
- Did he forfeit his salary?
- If not, why did we the taxpayers pay a man to lobby against the interests of his own government, all the time using his public position to maximize his impact?
- Who paid for this trip.?
- Was Cooney at this comfortable Japanese resort as a guest of the World Dental Federation?
- If so, how could this not be “accepting economic benefit,” prohibited in the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service?
D’Arcy Hande
(contact information)
Government representatives should be representing people not corporations.