UCP and Danielle Smith Under Fire for Controversial Supporters
The United Conservative Party (UCP) and Premier Danielle Smith continue to draw scrutiny over their approach to public health policies, a debate set to intensify with upcoming resolutions at the party’s November 2025 Annual General Meeting. Among the proposals are controversial measures to end community water fluoridation and prohibit vaccination history as a condition of employment.
These proposed changes arrive amidst a backdrop of ongoing criticism directed at the UCP's stance on vaccination and health policy. Premier Smith herself has faced backlash for past remarks, including her October 2022 assertion that unvaccinated individuals were "the most discriminated-against group" she had witnessed. In May 2023, she apologized for a resurfaced November 2021 video where she drew comparisons between vaccinated individuals and those who succumbed to the "charms of a tyrant," referencing Adolf Hitler. More recently, in May 2024, Smith defended a UCP-affiliated event featuring speakers who questioned COVID-19 vaccine safety, a move that concerned health experts about the spread of misinformation. Further exacerbating these tensions was a UCP-commissioned report in January 2025 on the province’s pandemic response, which suggested halting COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and was widely criticized for bias.
For Calgary residents, the resolution concerning water fluoridation holds particular local relevance. After years of public debate, a 2021 civic plebiscite showed 62 per cent support for reintroducing fluoride to Calgary’s drinking water, a practice that ceased in 2011. Research following the 2011 cessation indicated a negative impact on children's oral health in Calgary compared to Edmonton, where fluoridation continued. The City of Calgary began infrastructure upgrades in September 2023, with fluoride expected to be reintroduced into the water system by June 30, 2025, underscoring a local commitment to public health measures that stands in contrast to the proposed UCP resolution.
As these debates continue, the implications for public trust in government and the future direction of Alberta's health strategies remain a significant concern for Calgarians and policymakers alike.
