Date Published

Candidate in 2021

Office

Fluoridation position

Ian Chiang

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“I oppose the introduction of fluoride.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“Pro-fluoride. Particularly important for those who don’t have access to dental care.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I have three young children. I know the benefit fluoride provides to them. I will be voting to return fluoride to our water supply.”

NEUTRAL

“Water fluoridation is a ballot question on October 18th and the next Mayor and Council must abide by the will of the voters.”

NEUTRAL

“City Council in February took that decision out of its own hands and gave the decision to the voters. Having decided to ask citizens to make the decision, we must listen to what they tell us. It would be pointless to hold a plebiscite and ignore the answer, so I will advocate for what the voters decide.”

NEUTRAL

“I would not preside over a divided city or take sides.

I will be the “information mayor”, providing all necessary data and information, in order for the voters to make intelligent and informed decisions.

I am not a politician, and I am not backed by a specific donor or any special interest group. Therefore, I will work, and fight for all Calgarians – equally.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“Yes.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“97 per cent of water in this city is not used for drinking. Young children are the population that see the most benefit from fluoride.
“We should focus our fluoride efforts in schools and recreation facilities where the cost will be lower and the benefits will be higher.”

UNDECIDED

“Needs more study.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“Absolutely not. Harmful for dental health.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION – see video:

I have a video on YouTube explaining my stance on this topic… [Paper didn’t give link]

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“Never on my watch. Fluoride is a neurotoxin that should never have been in any water supply anywhere in Canada.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

NO OPINION

“It will be purely a vote and a democratic process.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“I am not in favour of fluoride. Rather I will work with the province to bring proper dental care to our youth 13 years of age and younger.”

Teddy Ogbonna

FOR FLUORIDAITON

“Yes.”

Mizanur Rahman

FOR FLUORIDAITON

“Yes, it has more pros.”

“Make fluoride available for those who want it.”

“I personally do not want it in my water,

but if the majority of citizens vote for it, then we must respect their decision.”

NEUTRAL

“If the majority of City Council members voted in favour to return fluoride, and If doctors approve it.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“No, it’s not only harmful to some people, but is also against some people’s value and belief, such that it is in violation of Charter Section 15.”

I have to be mindful of the public money and that it is used wisely as we must live within our means.”

NEUTRAL

“I feel that because we are doing a plebiscite and everyone gets a vote, I will 100 per cent support Ward 1’s decision.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“Obviously, I am not a medical or dental professional, nor a biologist or chemist, but I will say that from the evidence as it has been presented to me, I am personally in favour of fluoride. That being said, this has been made into a plebiscite issue and I think it is vital that whatever Calgarians decide, that we honour the democratic process and Calgarian’s votes, by upholding the decision that comes out of the vote on fluoride.

“I think it would be very detrimental for any elected body to ignore the outcome of a public vote. (I will say that I think we would have been better served by putting a “citizens committee” together to examine the issue and hear from academic and medical professionals, to determine the best path forward.)”

FOR FLUORIDAITON

“I support the introduction of fluoride.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“I say “No” to fluoride. Science says it’s a toxin and shouldn’t be ingested.”

NEUTRAL

“As a Councillor I will respect the outcome/results of the plebiscite vote and I will vote in alignment with what the majority of Ward 1 residents indicate they want.”

NEUTRAL

“I will support what Calgarians vote for.”

NEUTRAL

“When it comes to fluoride in the water – I have my personal opinion, but it’s what the residents of Ward 1 want that I will stand behind. If Ward 1 residents want fluoride, then I will support and champion their decision. If they don’t, then I will stand behind them on that issue. My personal bias will not affect how I vote on any issue in council. I will be working for the residents of Ward 1 after all, so it’s the residents” opinion that matters.”

We can put it on the back burner in the short term,

as there are more urgent priorities and all this will cost over $30 million.”

NEUTRAL

“I have encouraged Calgarians to educate themselves on this important issue. I encourage Calgarians to make sure they get out and vote. I will respect the decision that is communicated by the result of the plebiscite.”

AGAINST FLUORIDAITON

“It does not make sense to add fluoride to the entire water supply at a cost of $20 million over 10 years while less than one per cent is destined for consumption. Fluoride additive is readily available for anyone who wants it.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I am pro-fluoride. My vote, however, will be based on the results of the plebiscite. I will review how Ward 2 voted (aggregate all the Ward 2 poll results), and vote in alignment with the residents of Ward 2. Voting against the results of a plebiscite is how we ended up removing fluoride in the first place.”

Hamayun Akbar

FOR FLUORIDATION

“Yes, I am in favour of fluoride water.”

NEUTRAL

‘I will vote the same way as how Calgarians decide on the plebiscite.’

“I’m personally in favor of it

but will abide by the will of the voters.”

NEUTRAL

“We’re holding a plebiscite on this so that we can understand what citizens want. My commitment is to follow the directive that citizens give me. I won’t override a Yes or No vote with my personal opinion.”

“As an individual, I support returning fluoride,

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I will be voting no to fluoride in the water.”

NEUTRAL

“I have always been a supporter of plebiscites to decide large questions, like the Olympics, which I long called for and was successful in having occur. Like in 2018, I will support the decision of Calgarians either way. It is their time to have their say instead of council.”

NEUTRAL

“The decision was made by the previous City Council to put the issue to a plebiscite during this election. I commit to enacting the will of the electorate regardless of my stance on the issue.”

“Undecided”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“The overwhelming evidence supports that flouride is safe and helps protect our most vulnerable from tooth decay and cavities. I would like to advocate to the other orders of government to invest in dental care for Canadians, but as council we have a duty to use science to protect and serve our citizens. I am supportive of flouride.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

I am not a dentist but when my health-care professional friends are telling me that they see more cavities in children than in the past, as a father, I take notice. If dentists are in favour of fluoridation, something that may affect their own self-interest then I have to be in favour of fluoridation as well.

I also want to take the opportunity to recognize the efforts of dentists, health-care professionals and all the emergency personnel responding on the front-lines during this COVID-19 pandemic that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep themselves and their clients safe and cared for.

[He didn’t respond to the question]

FOR FLUORIDATION

“My position is based on the recommendations from organizations like the World Health Organization and Health Canada. I believe that there are dental benefits to fluoridation. As such I am in favor of fluoride in our water supply.”

“The City of Calgary cannot afford any additional expenditures.

If citizens are truly concerned the money could be spent more effectively if it was spent directly on those less fortunate.”

I note that this question has been deliberated and revisited by councils and brought before the voters numerous times. Why?”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“Yes to returning fluoride to our water. It’s time to stop the health carnage among our vulnerable populations generated from poor dental hygiene occurring due to lack of fluoride.”

NEUTRAL

“I have pledged to respect and vote accordingly with the plebiscite, and I will respect the decision Calgarians make at the ballot box. My own personal opinions have influenced my personal decision, but as Councillor I will be voting according to the choice made by all Calgarians.”

I anticipate a “yes” vote on this

item and will support that decision on council.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“Fluoride is an industrial waste product and doesn’t belong in our water.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I am personally a pro-fluoride citizen. After the plebiscite, Yes or No, I will follow the majority mandate of my constituents in Ward 7.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I support returning fluoride to the city’s water at the appropriate levels (there is already some fluoride in the water). Fluoride in the water has been proven to be safe, myths negating this have been debunked and the cost to the city is far outweighed by the benefits to children and citizens- It provides a good social return on investment.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I support fluoridation. The scientific information confirms the dental health benefits of this policy, particularly to children and seniors. I was an active participant in the campaign to successfully introduce fluoride in 1990 and I continue that commitment.”

UNDECIDED

“Project controls, more specifically cost control management, is my area of expertise. And the topic of fluoride is an area that I am looking into. Does it belong in Calgary’s water system? I’ll need to better educate myself on this before Oct. 18.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“NO- Do not add chemicals in the name of fluoride to the water, find a solution that works for all Calgarians. No one should be forced to ingest something they do not want to.”

NEUTRAL

“If elected to city council for Ward 8, I will respect the will of the people and would uphold the results of the plebiscite.”

1. water fluoridation is an extremely insufficient stand-in for universal dental care;

2. it is a provincial public health responsibility that has been downloaded onto the city;
3. there are considerably more impactful determinants of public health outcomes that are fully the city’s responsibility – like reducing car dependence and increasing active mobility mode share; but,
4. I will support the outcome of the plebiscite.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I am in favour of this initiative. I will however only vote in the direction that the Ward 9 residents vote for during the election. I will listen to the will of the people.”

Undecided

“I prefer answering this question once I am done researching the issue.”

NEUTRAL

“The people will decide. The choice will be on the ballot for people to vote for or against on October 18th.”

“I support science-backed decisions.

If the plebiscite vote favours fluoridation and I am elected a member of city council, I will vote in favour of fluoridation reinstatement.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“The decades-long debate around fluoridation in our water has been expensive and polarizing. Calgarians have been participants in a real-time study. Both anecdotal reports from dentists, as well as the scientific evidence, are quite clear about its benefits for improved dental health – especially for children in low-income households, and specifically in the absence of the inclusion of dental health care treatment as part of our overall provincial health care system.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“Yes”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“Fluoride in drinking water is necessary to keep healthy teeth and decrease cavities. PRESENTLY THE DRINKING WATER HAS TOO MUCH SEDIMENTATION AND NEEDS PROCESS OF PURIFICATION, TO PROTECT PEOPLES’ HEALTH. I am working on behalf of people’s well being for everybody, with no exceptions, applying human rights for every person in Calgary. I am asking to the public, neighbours and friends, to consider to vote for Esther Sutherland for city councillor on election day, on October 18, or in advance vote from October 4 to 10, 2021.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I am supportive of returning flouride to the water supply but would like to see us also innovate on greywater initiatives.”

Neutral

“As a firm believer in grassroots democracy, I will be voting in favour of the decision made by electors in this plebiscite.”

“I do think fluoride is important. I believe we need a way of getting fluoride to those who need it most, in the most effective way.

I would work with administration to understand if this is the best solution to the issue and move forward accordingly. I think it’s also important to listen to what Ward 11 residents want too.”

“The consensus I’ve received from knocking thousands of doors, is that residents of ward 11 do not want to spend money on reintroducing fluoride at this time.”

Neutral

“The fluoride issue will be on the ballot and the residents will vote on it. Many people don’t know that the vote is NON-BINDING. This means that despite what the majority of residents vote, a councillor could vote the opposite on the official motion.

The primary job responsibility as a councillor is to listen to residents. For that reason, I will be voting the same way the residents do when it comes to council to pass. It’s not often opinions on an issue have this much certainty of opinion, so to vote in opposition of the residents you represent would be foolish in my opinion and would indicate a councillor who doesn’t listen to their constituents. I will always listen to the residents who elected me.

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I am supportive of returning fluoride to the city’s water supply.”

I would like to look at the budget and project to see what is needed

, prior to getting the system up and running.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I will abide by the wishes of Calgarians that will be communicated through the results of the ballot question. If you are asking my opinion on the matter, I spoke with doctors and dentists and they all agreed that it was a good idea. Additionally, a study performed by AHS concluded that every $1 spent on water fluoridation can save up to $93 per person in dental treatment costs so it makes fiscal sense as well. When asked my opinion I would be in favor of fluoridation and as it has positive health impacts and is recommended by AHS I would like to ask the province for assistance in paying for it.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“It’s beneficial to our health and to prevent tooth decay. I am in favour.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“After spending some time looking at the issue from both sides, I am confident in putting my support behind fluoride in Calgary’s water.

When I weigh the negatives with the positives I ultimately want to be a public servant who looks for cost-effective ways to do the most for those who have the least and fluoride just makes sense. There is a large and ever-increasing body of evidence to show the benefits to dental health when fluoride — already naturally occurring — is at the ideal level in our water supply.

I will remain open to new science and studies done on the subject, but I am now in agreement that the annual $1.50 investment per person will actually be saving us far more down the road and promoting health for generations of Calgarians!”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“My position is that we need to follow the science and do what’s best for the people of Calgary. All studies I have read show that adding fluoride to the water will help with dental health, in addition, the majority of people I have spoken to or polled (polls were done on community groups in Calgary) are in favour of it.”

NEUTRAL

“On this issue, the city got it right in putting the decision to a vote from Calgarians. I will follow the will of the people on this issue.”

FOR FLUORIDATION

“I am totally in favour. This will benefit kids, seniors, and those who cannot afford dental care. In addition, oral hygiene is a critical component of cardiovascular health.”

AGAINST FLUORIDATION

“No. Risk outweighs benefits.”

We have beaten this dead horse enough and we need to let it rest for a while. One thing I would like to see, is a more targeted approach, vs blanket supply;

more education in schools on dental health and promoting brushing and proper diet, regular visits to the dentist.”