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Published:October 18, 2021

-Western Standard

 

Calgarians have voted for a change to the Equalization formula in Canada.

During a province-wide referendum, Calgarians voted 58% of Albertans to removing it from the constitution while 42% voted no.

The numbers were 196,118 to 122,605.

Equalization is the formula that has seen billions of dollars leaving Alberta to other provinces.

Albertans were asked: Sshould section 36(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 – Parliament and the government of Canada’s commitment to the principle of making equalization payments – be removed from the constitution?

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney promised the equalization referendum during his campaign for the 2019 provincial election, although the province isn’t in a position to make the change. Kenney would need approval from the feds for any change along with seven of 10 provinces agreeing to any constitutional amendments.

As for the Senate race in Alberta, the three Conservative senators won by a large margin in Calgary. Pam Davidson won with 138,709 of the vote, Erika Barootes with 128,074 and Mykhailo Martyniouk in third with 80,186.

PPC candidates Nadine Wellwood, Kelly Lorencz and Ann McCormack all tied with 4% each.

Calgary was one of the few jurisdictions in Alberta to release referendum results. Elections Albertans say province-wide results will be released on October 26.

Meanwhile, Calgarians again visited the contentious issue of whether to add fluoridation to the city’s water supply or not. A total of 62% of Calgarians voted yes while 38% voted no.

Calgary pulled fluoride from the water supply in 2011. Within a couple of years of that decision, a study found decay in children’s teeth had risen by 65% compared to Edmonton’s 14% rise in decay with fluoridated water.

Late last year, the city received a report pegging the cost to add fluoride at $30.1 million over 20 years.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it wouldn’t affect property taxes while the city administration said the capital costs could be absorbed by the water utility and wouldn’t require an increase in water rates.

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