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News by FFWD Staff Calgary’s most determined fluoride fighter has lost his battle to be heard in court, but he’ll never give up. Jack Locke started campaigning against the addition of fluoride to the city’s drinking water more than 10 years ago. The legal challenge started in 1989, eight days after the city passed the bylaw, and went to trial in 1993. Locke lost the challenge, and his subsequent efforts to appeal failed. That led to a June 1999 application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but last week it ruled that Locke’s appeal will not be heard – and to add insult to injury, it dismissed the appeal with costs. "That’s approximately a decade of litigation, and that comes to approximately $50,000 or $60,000," says Locke, who joked that he was considering buying a lottery ticket for the first time. His main concerns with fluoridation include the potential risk of brain cancer, hip fractures and mottled teeth. He says that like peanuts, it may have adverse effects on some people but not others. "There’s no doubt that it affects different people in different ways – and that’s why it’s do dangerous." Locke says he has no intention of giving up his fight, and points out that 114,000 people voted against fluoride in the last plebiscite despite the Calgary Regional Health Authority spending $250,000 to promote it. "I think it’s just the beginning. I think now it’s clear that the courts are unwilling to deal with this issue, so it’s incumbent on the citizens to stand up... to voice their opinions. He has sent an open letter to city council asking for a review of fluoridation from a different perspective: "Whichever way one views water fluoridation, in favour or against, does not really matter. The important matter is respecting the other person’s opinion and not forcing one’s beliefs upon those with whom you may disagree. In the case of fluoridation this is precisely what occurs. Additional fluoride is not necessary for delivering good water," the letter states. Locke expects he’ll hear from the city soon – at least about the $50,000 bill.

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