Majority of Calgarians support re-introducing fluoride into water supply, new poll says
When Calgarians head to the polls in less than a month, they won't just be voting for members of the next city council -- they'll also be deciding whether fluoride should be added to the city's water supply once again.
A new poll from ThinkHQ Public Affairs Inc. shows an overwhelming majority of respondents support fluoridation in the city.
"On a decided vote basis, it's like three-quarter/one-quarter. I mean, that's a huge margin on something that's been such a contentious issue," said Marc Henry of ThinkHQ.
The poll surveyed 1,109 people between Sept. 13-16 and found 68 per cent of people support fluoride being re-introduced to Calgary's drinking supply. The survey shows 21 per cent of people are against the idea and 11 per cent are undecided.
It's those undecided voters that two competing campaigns are trying to sway.
One side, a group called 'Fluoride Yes!' says children's dental health has declined in Calgary in the decade since the city stopped putting fluoride in the water.
"Every major public health, medical and dental organization in North America strongly recommends water fluoridation," said Juliet Guichon, a University of Calgary medical bioethicist and the campaign manager with Fluoride Yes!
"Just as one would say yes to vaccination, one should say yes to fluoridation," she said.
On the other side is a group called 'Safe Water Calgary,' which has concerns about adding fluoride to the water supply once again.
"There's so many better ways to get this, rather than putting it in city water where it's uncontrolled," said Dr. Robert Dickson with Safe Water Calgary.
"Dosage is uncontrolled and there's better ways, like toothpaste, gels, foams, rinses, whatever. And then people have the choice," he said.
Next month's plebiscite will be the sixth time Calgarians have voted on the fluoride issue.
If it is added again, it's estimated to cost about $30 million over the course of 20 years.
Advance voting for Calgary's municipal elections starts next week.
ThinkHQ's online survey of 1,109 adult Calgarians was conducted between Sept. 13 and 16 and has a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.