Toronto-based Refreshments Canada sent its president, Justin Sherwood, to City Hall Monday to counter a call by Oxfam Canada and Polaris Institute for the city to ban bottled water from its own meetings, concessions and vending machines.

"Government shouldn't restrict access to what's a healthy choice," Sherwood told council. "It distracts us from the big environmental issues we're facing."

A report shows city use of bottled water is limited to meetings held at TCU Place if requested by patrons, for use by bus drivers, firefighters and some employees who don't have access to a potable water line and in concessions and vending machines.

Oxfam representative Sasha Hanson-Pastran told council selling bottled water in its own facilities sends the wrong message about Saskatoon's water supply.

Council accepted the city report and opted to make no changes to its bottled-water policies, albeit with councillors Tiffany Paulsen, Pat Lorje and Charlie Clark opposed to maintaining the status quo. But city manager Phil Richards agreed to meet with Clark to specifically discuss the sale of bottled water in civic facilities, something Clark signaled he'd like to bring to a council vote.