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Fluoride fight grips Vancouver

Broadcast Date: Oct. 22, 1976

In the 1970s, Vancouver along with Montreal are the last two major cities in Canada to reject water fluoridation. At the time of this 1976 report, the fluoridation fight takes hold in what Vancouver's medical health officer refers to as the "rotten tooth capital of Canada." The arguments remain staunchly unchanged. Opponents still see fluoridation as mass medication by a deadly poison, while supporters believe fluoridation to be a safe way of decreasing tooth decay by 50 per cent.

The problem is the lack of definitive evidence to back the numerous studies on fluoride. Just as one study comes out saying fluoride is safe and economical, saving the government millions in dental bill, another anti-fluoridation report suggests as many as 35,000 Americans are dying from cancer caused by fluoride.

Fluoride fight grips Vancouver

• Vancouver has gone back and forth on the fluoride debate and currently (2002) does not fluoridate its water supply.
• Fluoridation has also been a controversial issue in Calgary for nearly 50 years. Six plebiscites have been held on the issue since it was introduced into the water in 1991. Calgary's water remains fluoridated.
• Ottawa has added fluoride to its water since 1967.

Fluoride fight grips Vancouver

Medium: Radio

Program: Five Nights

Broadcast Date: Oct. 22, 1976

Guest(s): Gerald Bonham, Dean Burke, Len Greenall, Warnet Kennedy, Harry Rankin, Croft Woodriff

Reporter: Terry Hoffman, Gary Marcuse

Duration: 14:34

Last updated:
Oct. 11, 2002