Ready to vote again on water fluoridation? Calgary to hold 6th plebiscite on issue

Question will be put to the public in October municipal election Calgary will hold yet another plebiscite on whether to restore fluoride to the city's drinking water this fall. Council voted 10-4 in favour of allowing the electors to decide the issue on Monday. It will be put to the public during the 2021 municipal election in October. Council chose to stop adding fluoride to its water supply in 2011, against the opinion of Calgarians who had voted in favour of fluoridation in 1998 and 1989 plebiscites. The city has held plebiscites on the issue dating back to the 1950s. of Calgarians who had voted in favour of fluoridation in 1998 and 1989 plebiscites. 

The city has held plebiscites on the issue dating back to the 1950s. Fluoride naturally occurs in some foods and is found in the Bow and Elbow Rivers at a concentration between 0.1 and 0.4 mg/L. Health Canada recommends water be fluoridated to a level of 0.7 mg/L to prevent tooth decay. 'Children are suffering' as Calgary's 60+ year fluoride debate drags on, bioethicist says The city has said it saves about $750,000 a year by not adding fluoride to the water — and some councillors have argued in the past that if it's an important factor to public health, the province should pay for it. 

 Coun. Jyoti Gondek made a version of that case on Monday, putting forth a motion that the plebiscite should ask the public if the province's chief medical officer of health should make the decision on fluoride. That motion was defeated. Coun. Evan Woolley also brought forward a motion — arguing council should vote then and there on whether to reintroduce fluoride — which after a flurry of debate was also defeated....