Council approves study into efficacy of fluoride

Calgary’s drinking water, City Council has approved a study for the University of Calgary’s O’Brien Insitute for Public Health to examine the benefits and detriments of fluoridation.

“So the idea is to try to reconcile, a little bit, the evidence that’s out there. Not to have this be about decibel opinion, but more just a measured analysis of what the evidence shows,” said director Dr. William Ghali of the O’Brien Institute.

Ward 13 Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart presented the motion on Monday asking for a thorough assessment on all the facts and viewpoints that apply to the contentious issue.

“Part of what we are responsible for is to make sure as legislators that we are as well informed as we possibly can be when you’re bringing in public policy decisions,” she said. “I know this is tricky — this is whether or not you believe in vaccines, or whether or not you believe in blood transfusions, any of those things. So, none of us on council are experts when it comes to fluoridation.”

Going back in time, this motion is nearly identical to one presented by Colley-Urquhart in 2016 and was defeated..........