Regina town hall meeting on fluoride cancelled due to safety concerns

A planned town hall meeting about the upcoming fluoride debate at Regina City Hall has been cancelled due to safety concerns.

The event, organized by Ward 5 Councillor Sarah Turnbull, was to be held on Tuesday night at the Victoria Square Mall. But Turnbull said the public meeting was cancelled after it was met with an intense wave of criticism that sparked safety concerns.

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Councillor Sarah Turnbull said the meeting was supposed to address the pros and cons of having fluoride in Regina’s water. (Submitted/Sarah Turnbull)

“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?’” Turnbull said.

Turnbull said the event was meant to foster public engagement and discuss the pros and cons of adding fluoride to the city’s water, without endorsing any specific viewpoint.

Next month, council is expected to reconsider a 2021 decision that would add fluoride to the city’s water starting in 2026.

Turnbull said one valid point of criticism she received pointed out that dental care experts were not featured at the meeting, but she said she would correct that oversight in a recorded video conversation that will be posted on social media in the future. Turnbull said she also plans to record conversations with Mikayla Raddysh and Laura Stark, who practice naturopathic medicine and were expected to speak at the town hall meeting.

Turnbull said the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan declined to attend.

Turnbull said she feels very strongly that the public should have input about what goes into their bodies, and felt that attempts to stifle the discussion were disrespectful.

“I believe that the majority of people benefit from fluoride. I have no argument with dentists. I don’t need to question the medical community,” Turnbull said.

“But I also don’t need to dismiss the sensitivities to fluoride that do exist as well, and I don’t need to dismiss people’s opinions on fluoride and what they want in their body.”

Turnbull said the pro- and anti-fluoride sides of the debate both have merit.

“The College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan agrees with, and supports, the Canadian Dental Association and American Dental Association position statements regarding community water fluoridation, as recommended by Health Canada,” the college said in a statement.

“Community water fluoridation is especially important in reducing decay rates in vulnerable populations, such as underprivileged children and seniors, that may not have regular access to dental care. Based on a history of available evidence, community water fluoridation is safe, effective, and economical.”

Turnbull said she isn’t yet sure how she’ll end up voting on the issue.

“I think the problem is that fluoride is good for the majority of people, but it’s not good for everybody,” she said.

“How do you approach that? I don’t know. So we’ll see, and as I go through this information gathering and go through this debate for the first time, I’ll learn a lot, and I’m sure this new council will (as well).”

The special council meeting is scheduled for May 2 at 9 a.m.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that Turnbull said she had invited city administration and the College of Dental Surgeons to the planned town hall.