Key takeaways:
- Regina is readying to add fluoride in community water next year
- A motion to reconsider the fluoridation decision is scheduled for discussion in May
- Regina has held four referendums on the issue in 1954, 1958, 1965 and 1985.
A public meeting planned for Tuesday evening at Regina City Hall to discuss the city’s upcoming fluoride implementation was cancelled due to safety concerns, according to the councillor who organized the event.
“It was frightening. I had emails calling me a flat Earther. I had emails calling me a Nazi, and I’m like, ‘How did this even happen from planning the town hall?’” Ward 5 Coun. Sarah Turnbull told 980 CJME.
Turnbull had shared information about water fluoridation on her Facebook page ahead of the event, which was cancelled following intense backlash.
Regina is currently upgrading its Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant, where a fluoridation system is being installed. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025, with fluoride added to the water supply starting in 2026. However, a motion to reconsider the decision is scheduled for discussion on May 2.
Councillor still deciding her position
When asked on Facebook whether she supports the addition of fluoride to Regina’s water, Turnbull responded: “I’m deciding, but the point of the town hall was for input, which is part of the decision-making.”
“I feel strongly that not enough community engagement has happened, and that we shouldn’t dismiss our residents,” she said. “Until all delegations and information have been presented on May 2, we are supposed to keep an open mind.”
While Utah recently became the first U.S. state to ban fluoridation — a move that followed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s comments labelling it “industrial waste” — Regina has held four referendums on the issue in 1954, 1958, 1965 and 1985.
In 2021, city council voted to begin fluoridating Regina’s water, citing strong support from public health and dental care professionals. According to Health Canada, the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water is 0.7 milligrams per litre (mg/L), or 0.7 parts per million (ppm), a level that also accounts for other sources of fluoride such as toothpaste or mouth rinse. This recommended level is currently under review.
Proponents argue fluoridation reduces dental caries, particularly among children and underserved communities. Opponents have raised concerns about bodily autonomy, potential harms and the need for alternatives.
For related articles: Fluoride: When, where, why
For related articles: Here’s where Canadian experts stand on fluoridating drinking water