Volume 9 • 2022 • Issue 1

Newfoundland Announces Beverage Tax T he Newfoundland and Labrador government announced details of its new tax targeting sugar- sweetened beverages. Beginning in September 2022, a tax of $0.20/L will apply to drinks with added sugar and will be collected at the wholesale level, similar to the model used for provincial gasoline and tobacco taxes. The new “soda tax” will apply to beverages containing added sweeteners such as sugar, corn syrup, fructose and agave nectar. Alcoholic beverages will be excluded. Chocolate milk is also exempt, as are diet drinks containing artificial sweeteners, infant formulas, yogurt drinks and nutritional meal replacement beverages. Ready-to-drink beverages, concentrated drink mixtures and dispensed beverages (e.g., slushies and fountain pop) will be subject to the new provincial levy. A lmost two-thirds of Calgary voters supported adding fluoride back into the city’s municipal water supply. A plebiscite question was included in Calgary’s October 2021 municipal election: Are you in favour of reintroducing fluoridation of the municipal water supply? Sixty-two percent of voters were in favour of bringing back this public healthmeasure. The fluoride plebiscite vote was non-binding, so the new Calgary mayor and city council will need to address this issue after they are officially installed in their new roles. Estimates on when fluoridation could be reintroduced in the city range between 18 to 24 months. Calgary residents have voted on this issue before, voting in favour of fluoridation both in 1998 and 1989. However, Calgary city council chose to stop adding fluoride to the city’s water supply in 2011. A nthony (Tony) Patey retired as executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association (NLDA), a role in which he served for over 17 years. He is transitioning out of the executive director role but will remain as a consultant to the NLDA to assist with ongoing projects until the end of June 2022. “Many of you know Tony and understand just how much of a key role he has played in the success of the NLDA, as well as the dental profession across Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Dr. Michelle Zwicker, NLDA president. “While we cannot express enough about the positive impact he has had on our profession, Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association Executive Director CalgaryVoters Support Fluoridation his steady hand and solutions-based approach has benefited us all. He has elevated the NLDA on a national level, bringing wisdom and careful thought to all national discussions.” Amanda Squires was officially installed as the new NLDA executive director in January 2022. Ms. Squires has served as NLDA manager of communications and member relations since 2019. On the recommendation of the NLDA executive search committee, she has been training and working closely with Mr. Patey for over a year in preparation for becoming NLDA executive director. Amanda Squires NLDA Executive Director 20 | 2022 | Issue 1