Latest news with #Gian-CarloCarra
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
As Calgary brings back fluoride, councillor urges Montreal to reconsider West Island decision
By As Calgary prepares to reintroduce fluoride to its drinking water later this month, one of their city councillors is calling upon Montreal to reconsider removing it from West Island faucets — and trust the science. Calgary took away fluoride from its water in 2011 as a cost-cutting measure. Dental health declined over the next decade, according to city councillor Gian-Carlo Carra, who has been involved in the fluoride debate throughout. In 2021, Calgarians voted in a municipal election to reinstate water fluoridation. 'We've had fluoride out of the water for over 10 years. That was 10 years we could track a against other cities. We could track a worsening in the condition of our kids' teeth and in our population's teeth,' Carra said in an interview Monday. As Carra reflects on Calgary's decision-making on fluoride, he's appealing to Montreal to learn from Calgary's missteps and to 'trust the data.' 'The data shows that it helps,' he added. A 2021 study on second-grade children in Calgary found that the proportion of children with dental caries rose from 56.6 per cent in 2011 to 64.8 per cent in 2018, seven years after the city stopped fluoridating its water. In November, Montreal's agglomeration council voted to end fluoridation of West Island drinking water, also to save costs. Although 87 per cent of the agglomeration council is made up of Montreal councillors who largely voted against fluoride, the 13-per-cent minority representing the suburbs — particularly West Island officials — fought to maintain it. Fluoridation at the Dorval and Pointe-Claire plants was set to finish by early 2025. Benjamin Blanc, a spokesperson for the city of Pointe-Claire, confirmed the practice actually stopped at the end of fall 2024. The Gazette contacted the cities of Montreal and Dorval for clarification but did not receive a response in time for publication. For Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson, Calgary's decision to bring back fluoride demonstrates it's not too late for Montreal to reconsider its own fluoride policy for the West Island. 'I'm not finished fighting this battle,' he said in an interview Tuesday, adding that he plans to raise the issue during Montreal's municipal election this fall and is prepared to challenge it in court if necessary. While Calgary residents were able to vote directly on the fluoride issue through a municipal election ballot, Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas said that's not an option for West Island residents, who cannot vote in the Montreal municipal election. He explained that under the current structure of the agglomeration council, decisions affecting the West Island are ultimately made by Montreal city councillors, who significantly outnumber suburban representatives. 'The point here is that we can't decide water for our own citizens with our own plant,' Thomas said in an interview. 'Our citizens, who paid for that plant, should have the option of deciding how it's used for them.' Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle said in an interview Monday that during the fall agglomeration council debates on fluoride, he pointed to Calgary as a cautionary tale. He is not hopeful Montreal will reinstate fluoride because of the way the agglomeration council is organized, which he described as 'undemocratic.' 'Politically, the worst thing that the provincial government did was to set up the agglomeration the way it is,' he said. Montreal's decision prioritized cost savings over public health, said Baie-D'Urfe Mayor Heidi Ektvedt. 'I personally don't even believe that this is about fluoride. I personally think that there was money to be saved by pulling it, and why spend it in the West Island for a population who doesn't even vote for (Montreal),' she said in an interview Monday. She added that several citizens have reached out to her about Calgary refluoridating its water. 'I'm happy for Calgary that they're putting it back into their water,' she said. 'But you know, Montreal is going to tell you, let's look at Sweden. They'll talk about the States — everybody's pulling out of fluoride in the States,' referring to possible examples cited by the city to justify not fluoridating. 'I like to look at Calgary and see that it was done in a democratic way.'
Calgary Herald
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Gian-Carlo Carra not running for re-election after four terms on Calgary city council
Another of Calgary's veteran city councillors said he won't be seeking another term in office this fall. Article content Article content In his Ward 9 newsletter on Friday, Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra confirmed he won't run for re-election in this year's municipal vote, while also endorsing mayoral candidate Brian Thiessen and his Calgary Party. Article content 'It is with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride, that I announce my decision not to seek a fifth term as Ward 9's city councillor this October,' he wrote. Article content Article content Carra was first elected in Ward 9, which includes several inner-city neighbourhoods that straddle both sides of Deerfoot Trail, in 2010. He is currently serving his fourth term, representing a diverse range of communities that include Inglewood, Bridgeland and Ogden on the west side of the freeway, and Radisson Heights, Dover and Forest Heights on the east side. Article content Article content He also touted his efforts to tackle historic injustices in the city, in areas such as systemic racism and gender equality. Article content Carra said championing the $180-million revitalization of International Avenue will be remembered as his favourite achievement as a councillor, while the failed bid for Calgary to host the 2026 Winter Olympics was his biggest disappointment. Article content Article content 'I entered council representing east Calgary communities that I think have done an oversized job in building the city we live in today but were significantly underinvested in. I think I've significantly reversed that trend,' he said. Article content But he lamented the current state of politics and took aim at all three levels of government for descending into 'anger, fear and division.' Article content 'I was elected in a beautiful moment in time alongside Naheed Nenshi,' Carra said. 'It was an age of politics in full sentences. Article content 'I think unfortunately, more and more politicians are stepping up to play a game of politics rather than govern.' Article content Article content Carra joins a growing list of councillors who have confirmed they won't run this October, including fellow veteran Peter Demong, and first-term colleagues Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian and Courtney Walcott. Article content He said he agreed with Mian who announced, during a council meeting, her decision to step down due to growing political gamesmanship, particularly when it came to the province's interference in the Green Line project.
Calgary Herald
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
After four terms on council, Gian-Carlo Carra calling it a day
Article content Another of Calgary's veteran city councillors said he won't be seeking another term in office this fall. Article content Article content In his Ward 9 newsletter on Friday, Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra confirmed he won't run for re-election in this year's municipal vote, while also endorsing mayoral candidate Brian Thiessen and his Calgary Party. Article content 'It is with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride, that I announce my decision not to seek a fifth term as Ward 9's city councillor this October,' he wrote. Article content Article content Carra was first elected in Ward 9, which includes several inner-city neighbourhoods that straddle both sides of Deerfoot Trail, in 2010. He is currently serving his fourth term, representing a diverse range of communities that include Inglewood, Bridgeland and Ogden on the west side of the freeway, and Radisson Heights, Dover and Forest Heights on the east side. Article content Article content He also touted his efforts to tackle historic injustices in the city, in areas such as systemic racism and gender equality. Article content Carra said championing the $180-million revitalization of International Avenue will be remembered as his favourite achievement as a councillor, while the failed bid for Calgary to host the 2026 Winter Olympics was his biggest disappointment. Article content Article content 'I entered council representing east Calgary communities that I think have done an oversized job in building the city we live in today but were significantly underinvested in. I think I've significantly reversed that trend,' he said. Article content But he lamented the current state of politics and took aim at all three levels of government for descending into 'anger, fear and division.' Article content 'I was elected in a beautiful moment in time alongside Naheed Nenshi,' Carra said. 'It was an age of politics in full sentences. Article content 'I think unfortunately, more and more politicians are stepping up to play a game of politics rather than govern.' Article content Article content Carra joins a growing list of councillors who have confirmed they won't run this October, including fellow veteran Peter Demong, and first-term colleagues Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian and Courtney Walcott. Article content He said he agreed with Mian who announced, during a council meeting, her decision to step down due to growing political gamesmanship, particularly when it came to the province's interference in the Green Line project.
Calgary Herald
09-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Transit closer to closing fare evasion with cellphone ticket validation at CTrain stations
Article content CTrain riders who buy tickets through the Calgary Transit app may soon have to scan their phone before boarding the LRT. Article content Article content In a bid to clamp down on fare evasion and a loophole that some riders are exploiting, Calgary Transit is planning to introduce validator technology on CTrain platforms later this year. Article content A housekeeping amendment to the city's transit bylaw to enable the technology was brought to the community planning development committee on Thursday. Article content 'I think this is a good piece of housekeeping,' Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra said before the vote. Article content The amended bylaw would allow for the same ticket-scanning technology that has been used on Calgary's bus fleet since 2020 to be used on trains. Article content Article content A Calgary Transit official told the committee the ticket-scanners would help transit peace officers enforce fare compliance, while also helping track fare evasion more effectively. Article content 'This is truly more around an alignment of our fare system, so that it's aligned between our buses and our LRT, so for our customers, it's a consistent journey,' said Aaron Coon, manager of transit service support for Calgary Transit. Article content Article content The validators will also aim to clamp down on a loophole in which train users pre-purchase their ticket through the My Fare app, but do not activate the fare unless they see a peace officer come on board, according to Coon. Article content The loophole exists because mobile tickets have a seven-day window before they need to be activated. Article content 'What our officers were seeing was individuals would buy the ticket, hold it in the queue and not activate it for seven days,' he said. Article content It's impossible to know how much revenue Calgary Transit has lost as a result, according to Coon, but he noted roughly 46 per cent of single-use mobile tickets were not being activated before they expired. Article content 'This (technology) will inhibit that from happening.' Article content The cost to install validator hardware, software upgrades and educate the public on the changes will be approximately $1.8 million, but Coon said the funding will come from Calgary Transit's existing capital budget.
Calgary Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Transit closer to closing fare evasion with cell phone ticket validation at Ctrain stations
Article content CTrain riders who buy tickets through the Calgary Transit app may soon have to scan their phone before boarding the LRT. Article content Article content In a bid to clamp down on fare evasion and a loophole that some riders are exploiting, Calgary Transit is planning to introduce validator technology on CTrain platforms later this year. Article content A housekeeping amendment to the city's transit bylaw to enable the technology was brought to the community planning development committee on Thursday. Article content 'I think this is a good piece of housekeeping,' Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra said before the vote. Article content The amended bylaw would allow for the same ticket-scanning technology that has been used on Calgary's bus fleet since 2020 to be used on trains. Article content Article content A Calgary Transit official told the committee the ticket-scanners would help transit peace officers enforce fare compliance, while also helping track fare evasion more effectively. Article content 'This is truly more around an alignment of our fare system, so that it's aligned between our buses and our LRT, so for our customers, it's a consistent journey,' said Aaron Coon, manager of transit service support for Calgary Transit. Article content Article content The validators will also aim to clamp down on a loophole in which train users pre-purchase their ticket through the My Fare app, but do not activate the fare unless they see a peace officer come on board, according to Coon. Article content The loophole exists because mobile tickets have a seven-day window before they need to be activated. Article content 'What our officers were seeing was individuals would buy the ticket, hold it in the queue and not activate it for seven days,' he said. Article content It's impossible to know how much revenue Calgary Transit has lost as a result, according to Coon, but he noted roughly 46 per cent of single-use mobile tickets were not being activated before they expired. Article content 'This (technology) will inhibit that from happening.' Article content The cost to install validator hardware, software upgrades and educate the public on the changes will be approximately $1.8 million, but Coon said the funding will come from Calgary Transit's existing capital budget.
