‘Overreach’: Alberta UCP fluoride resolution criticized by experts, opposition

Some in the UCP want to reignite the fluoride debate in the city of Calgary. Timm Bruch reports

Some Calgarians are worried about the fate of fluoride in the city ahead of provincial government discussions later this month.

The United Conservative Party will host its annual general meeting (AGM) in Edmonton from Nov. 28 to 30.

It’s a chance for party members to gather and recommend new policies to those in charge, hoping to have an impact on future legislation.

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One of those suggestions is getting a lot of attention across the city.

Policy Resolution 27 calls to “end the practice of community water fluoridation,” calling it “medical treatment without consent, which is contrary to the Alberta Bill of Rights.”

After more than a decade without, Calgarians voted to re-introduced fluoride into the water system in 2021.

Sixty-two per cent of ballots cast were in favour of the idea.

Fluoride officially returned this summer after roughly $28 million was spent upgrading the area’s water treatment plants.

‘A decade of decay’

Pro-fluoride groups are already concerned about the UCP’s AGM.

While no policy resolution has to be passed provincially if members approve it with a vote, the meetings have often been a jumping off point for future legislation.

That worries Juliet Guichon, a professor at the Cumming School of Medicine.

“There’s over 80 years of safety and efficacy data on fluoride,” she told CTV News. “The fact that it’s efficacious is not contestable, and we in Calgary contributed significantly to the data on the harms of removing fluoridation. Researchers at the University of of Calgary showed conclusively that if you take it away, you harm children, as well as everyone else.”

Data shows fluoride has been reducing cavities, strengthening enamel and cutting down related hospitalizations across North America for years.

It occurs naturally and is found in many foods.

Inglewood Family Dental’s David DeSantis wants residents to know it’s a positive — despite some claiming otherwise.

“(Dentists) are really acting in everyone’s best interest and kind of against our own by suggesting fluoride go in water,” he said. “It’s proven to reduce cavity risk in communities that have it across all ages — especially in younger children.”

Experts have shown its 14-year absence from Calgary has increased youth tooth decay rates in the city, compared to Edmonton children.

“The people of Calgary want fluoridation,” Guichon added. “They know what happened when it was taken away.”

“They had a decade of decay and they’re fed up with it.”

Political policy

The UCP AGM fluoride resolution is one of 35 that will be voted on at the end of the month.

It was sponsored by constituency associations in Calgary-Acadia, Calgary-Buffalo, Calgary-Fish Creek, Calgary-Mountain View and Leduc-Beaumont.

None of the associations would give CTV News an interview on the subject this week. Neither would the municipal affairs minister — or the party itself.

Instead, the UCP sent a statement saying it “encourages debate on a wide range of issues.”

“Some (resolutions) will pass and others won’t,” it read. “We’re proud of that democratic process and the honest debate it allows.”

Last month in the legislature, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange was asked about fluoride.

She said the province is “continuing to work with municipalities who would like input into that decision-making,” but that currently, “it’s a municipal decision.”

Regardless of its future, Alberta’s opposition party is taking exception to the push.

“It’s just another case of the UCP wanting to control everything in municipalities,” NDP MLA Rob Miyashiro said. “The overreach they’ve already shown is pretty significant and quite appalling.”

“There’s a direct pipeline from the far fringes of the UCP, its MLAs and members, to this government’s cabinet table,” NDP Deputy House Leader David Shepherd added.

Anti-fluoride focus

Despite the large majority of public health community considering fluoride safe and effective, some insist it is lowering IQ rates and leading to medical problems.

That includes the founder of anti-fluoride group Safe Water Calgary, Robert Dickson.

Earlier this summer, he claimed to have met with members of the UCP to lobby for fluoride’s municipal removal.

“Only about 205,000 Calgarians voted for water fluoridation in 2021,” he said. “Right now, there’s about 1.8 million people that are being fluoridated with Calgary water.”

Dickson’s group has filed a lawsuit and application for a judicial review against the City of Calgary’s decision.

Its initial bid for an emergency injunction to pause the fluoridation process was delayed in July 2025 due to procedural issues.

Dickson was previously sanctioned for unprofessional conduct by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

He retired as a physician shortly after.

“There’s money in causing people to be frightened about public health measures,” Guichon said.

“I don’t know that the UCP government wants to act cruelly; I think they might just be misinformed.”

Municipal reaction

Calgary’s new mayor took exception to the AGM’s policy idea late Thursday.

A statement from Jeromy Farkas’ office reads, in part, “Calgarians voted in 2021 to reintroduce fluoride to the city’s water. That is a decision that was made by voters in this city, and any changes to that policy must be made by voters in this city.”

“I hope the provincial government respects this decision.”