CALGARY — Dozens of Calgarians turned up at city hall Wednesday afternoon to put their two cents into the fluoride debate.
The turnout was so large the city committee meeting had to be moved to the main council chambers.
The debate that has spanned decades was just as divided today, but the city is determined to hear all 47 people on the list.
It will then send a recommendation to council on whether or not fluoride should be pulled from city drinking water.
The chemical was first added to the water supply in 1989 following a plebiscite.
Calgarians voted for fluoride once again in 1998.
Dr. Richard Musto, Medical Officer of Health for Alberta Health Services, was among those advocating the benefits of fluoride in oral health.
“It’s putting it in the water at the effective and safe level that’s going to be accessible to everybody.
“The other things like toothpaste, not everyone is going to use it and it’s a big supplement.”
But not everyone agrees.
“When you are drugging a whole society against their will, that’s unethical,” said parent Michelle Robinson.
The meeting was expected to continue into Wednesday night and this morning.