Latest news with #SafeWaterCalgary
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Group files injunction to stop the fluoridation of Calgary's drinking water
A private interest group says fluoride in Calgary's drinking water is harmful to young children and needs to be stopped. (File) A local group is trying to put a stop to fluoridation and has filed an injunction at the Alberta Court of King's Bench. Safe Water Calgary believes fluoridation is a public health threat to Calgarians and says the risk of damage is not worth the dental benefit. 'It's not safe, it's not effective and we have good science to prove that,' said Dr. Robert Dickson, founder of Safe Water Calgary. Adding fluoride to Calgary's drinking water has been a long contentious issue. Calgarians most recently had their say in 2021 during a plebiscite, with 62 per cent voting in favour of reintroducing fluoride back into the water system. Since then, the city has spent more than $28 million to upgrade both water treatments plants to be able to add in the fluoride. Many dentists and dental organizations say research and data proves the benefits of fluoridated water. However, Safe Water Calgary argues fluoride contains toxic substances and puts young children at risk. '205,000 people back in 2021 are now dictating policy for 1.6 million people who didn't vote for it back then,' said Dickson. The group is calling for a pause on fluoridation until an expert panel can look into it and all sides can agree on how the city should move forward. The injunction will be heard in court Wednesday at noon with a rally held outside the building at the same time. (With files from Mason DePatie)
Global News
30-06-2025
- Health
- Global News
Calgary reintroduces fluoride into drinking water but faces court injunction
Fluoride has been reintroduced into the drinking water in Alberta's largest city nearly four years after Calgarians voted in support in a plebiscite on the matter in the last municipal election. Calgary city council voted in favour of adding fluoride to the city's water supply in November 2021, after a plebiscite during that year's municipal election resulted in 62 per cent of Calgarians voting in support. The move required a series of upgrades at both of Calgary's water treatment plants at a cost of $28.1 million. The reintroduction of fluoride will also require $1 million in annual operating spending, which the city said is funded through water rates. Although there is fluoride naturally in the Bow and Elbow rivers in low concentrations — between 0.1 and 0.4 milligrams per litre — the city said it is adding a consistent concentration to reach 0.7 mg/L, which is recommended by Health Canada to enhance oral health. Story continues below advertisement 'Fluoridation is backed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Alberta Health Services and numerous health organizations worldwide,' the city said in a statement. 'It is a proven, safe and cost-effective way to reduce cavities and improve dental health, especially for those without regular access to dental care.' City officials added that the reintroduction of fluoride has no impact on the taste or smell of drinking water. Juliet Guichon, a professor in the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine, told Global News that studies show dental decay rose significantly in children in Calgary — after fluoride was removed — compared to Edmonton where the water remained fluoridated. 'This demonstrated, irrefutably, that water fluoridation makes a difference,' Guichon said. 'Even in an era with fluoridated products, going to the dentist and getting fluoride applied, dental sealants and so on.' Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy However, a group called Safe Water Calgary is trying to put a stop to fluoridation and has filed an injunction at the Court of King's Bench that will be heard on July 9. The group says it has 'new science' to support its anti-fluoride stance, adding that the risk of damage is not worth the dental benefit. 'There are so many other ways we can get fluoride into kids,' said Robert C. Dickson with Safe Water Calgary. 'There's a national dental care program for the poor now, … there's fluoride in toothpaste if you want it, there's fluoride in rinses and gels and foams at the dentist's office if you want it. We spent $28 million to replace the infrastructure. That could have funded programs for decades.' Story continues below advertisement Adding fluoride to Calgary's water supply has long been a contentious issue in the city. Calgarians voted against introducing fluoride into the drinking water in four separate plebiscites on the issue in 1957, 1961, 1966 and 1971. It wasn't until a 1989 plebiscite when Calgarians voted in favour of introducing fluoridation, which began in 1991. It was supported again in a 1998 plebiscite by more than half of voters, which resulted in a reduction of the level of fluoride from 1.0 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L after a review by the City of Calgary and AHS. Calgary's drinking water remained fluoridated for 20 years until city council voted to discontinue the practice in 2011. Ward 9 councillor Gian-Carlo Carra was part of that council when the decision was made and said the move was largely driven by costs. Story continues below advertisement 'I can acknowledge it probably wasn't the right thing to do at the time, and I'm deeply proud of Calgarians for voting to put it back in,' he said. Reintroducing fluoride into Calgary's drinking water has faced several delays due to supply chain issues and inflationary pressures. Calgary joins Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge as Alberta cities that add fluoride to drinking water, which is also done in other cities like Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa. The move will impact communities like Chestermere, Airdrie, Strathmore and portions of Foothills County, Rocky View County and Tsuut'ina Nation, which have their drinking water supplied by the City of Calgary.
