A recent council meeting in the Town of Hanna showcased two social phenomena that’ve been cropping up in Canada: mistrust of science and mistrust of authority.
A University of Calgary (U of C) expert says those issues are becoming more prevalent and more seductive, with a straightforward solution: patience and easily-accessible factual information.
Dr. Maria Petrovna Bakardjieva, a professor in the Communication, Media and Film Department at the U of C who presents on topics like conspiracy theories and mistrust of science, stated a recent Hanna resident’s request to reduce chlorine in the municipality’s tap water because she feels chlorine’s dangerous reinforces what experts and research have observed in this country.
“It certainly is an indication of diminishing trust in public authorities,” said Bakardjieva in a phone call with the ECA Review Jan.23.
The Canadian Press reported in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, that an Ipsos poll was conducted in 2018 on behalf of multinational corporation 3M which observed Canadians and other people around the world were becoming more distrustful of science.
In one year the number of people who were skeptical or mistrustful of science grew from about one quarter of those surveyed to about one third, a noticeable jump for a 12-month period.
It was noted in the survey that of those already skeptical of science, roughly 33 per cent also felt government or big business had influence over scientists; about 44 per cent of all respondents saw scientists as aloof or snobby, essentially “elitists.”
Lastly, about a third of those who mistrusted science only accepted science when it agreed with their personal beliefs.
“I think it’s a matter of pure ignorance,” said Bakardjieva, who also noted that although it appears trust in authority and science is declining in Canada, she was surprised to see it at a local council meeting because Canadians generally have higher trust in their municipal governments.
Bakardjieva also stated that the Hanna presenter, who Google searched her concerns and read results to councillors on the spot, illustrates the trend of trusting easily-accessible online sources and ignoring the credibility of scientists who’ve determined the safe level of chlorine in tap water.
Bakardjieva stated the chlorine presentation also seems to reflect the general rise in populism that may include a belief that scientists are aloof.
A recent University of Waterloo report reflected Bakardjieva’s comment, a 2024 paper titled Trust in Canada: Recent Trends in Measures of Trust.
“Examination of public trust should also consider disillusionment and alienation, which appears to be on the rise in Canada, particularly as it relates to the economy and politics,” stated the report’s summary. “These feelings can directly lead to distrust in all institutions and most messengers.”
Chlorine is used around the world in small quantities, usually around four parts per million, to eliminate microorganisms linked to diseases like cholera and typhoid fever that are known to threaten human life. The Government of Canada in the “It’s Your Health” report acknowledges chlorine can form other substances when reacting to foreign substances and in very high levels has caused cancer in lab animals; however, the same report stated, “Current scientific data shows that the benefits of chlorinating our drinking water (less disease) are much greater than any health risks.”
Most Canadians are well aware in Walkerton, Ont. in 2000 a bacterial contamination of municipal drinking water killed seven people and sickened 2,300 with at least one expert claiming if Walkerton chlorine levels had been properly monitored the deaths could have been prevented.
Dr. Matthew Hayes teaches philosophy, politics, English and ethics at Northern Lakes College and has presented at the U of C on conspiracy theories and related phenomena.
He observed the chlorine in tap water concern suggests a “rabbit hole,” that is, an introduction to the world of mistrust of authority and science, a world that, for example, encourages people to ignore science and entrust serious public health decisions to Google search results.
Hayes noted ‘rabbit holes’ may introduce people to a world of conspiracy theories that are self-reinforcing and, by definition, non-falsifiable, “…that’s why it’s also very difficult to get them out of the conspiracy theory,” said Hayes in an interview with the ECA Review Jan. 21.
He added that one unusual belief may lead to a conspiracy theory. “It is a hungry monster,” said Hayes. “Anything you throw at it will become part of it.”
Bakardjieva pointed out the Hanna resident should be commended for drawing attention to a public issue she’s concerned about, as chlorination above safe levels could be harmful to the public, observing that it’s not irrational to believe errors could show up in municipal water systems.
Hence, it’s vital that municipalities take their public health responsibilities seriously she added.
However, Dr. Bakardjieva felt it was also vitally important for municipalities to provide as much factual information to the public as possible, and to take public concerns like chlorination of tap water seriously: the substantial time and effort exerted to keep water safe should be made clear to the public.
Bakardjieva noted addressing public concerns such as this are an excellent opportunity to openly share information instead of minimizing or ignoring such a concern and run the risk of appearing aloof or elitist.
“It’s not a good idea to dismiss it out of hand,” added Bakardjieva.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
