Medicine Hat Minute: Integrity Commissioner, Food Waste, and an Intermunicipal Development Plan

Medicine Hat Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Medicine Hat politics

This Week In Medicine Hat:

• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week on account of the Alberta Municipalities Convention taking place in Red Deer.
  
  
• The City says the food waste pilot project has seen strong participation, with about 64% of surveyed residents indicating they are likely to continue if the program expands citywide. Currently, the initiative involves 4,000 residents who received food waste buckets to dispose of organic waste in green yard bins, helping to reduce landfill contributions. Survey results show 59% support for expanding the program, which will be discussed during the 2025-26 budget deliberations. A proposal for Citywide implementation is expected to be presented to Council this fall.
  
  
• The City of Medicine Hat, Cypress County, and the Town of Redcliff are proposing updates to their Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) to support agricultural space and allow for county expansion. This collaborative effort has involved extensive discussions over the past year. Mayor Linnsie Clark highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, emphasizing the IDP as a living document that requires regular updates. Notably, the plan includes a designated agri-industrial area, enhanced by upcoming infrastructure projects like the twinning of Highway 3 and an extended airport runway. An open house is scheduled for October 3rd, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Desert Blume Golf Course clubhouse.

Last Week In Medicine Hat:

• The City of Medicine Hat has approved an updated Code of Conduct Bylaw, allowing residents and employees to file complaints against elected officials. The new process will involve a third-party Integrity Commissioner rather than a Council Committee to avoid potential conflicts of interest. While Mayor Linnsie Clark raised concerns about Council members’ interactions with the Commissioner, her suggested amendments were not considered. Council unanimously supported finding an Integrity Commissioner, though details such as funding and complaint handling are still being finalized.
  
  
• Council delayed finalizing a proposal to create two new reserve funds and rebrand the City's heritage account. The proposed Abandonment Reserve would address debt and reclamation obligations, while the Energy Transition Reserve would support the City's goal of achieving net-zero emissions. Both funds are set to receive $75 million from the City’s unrestricted cash reserves. Additionally, the Heritage Savings Reserve would be renamed the Medicine Hat Endowment Fund, with clearer guidelines on its usage, though access to the fund’s principal would still be restricted. The decision was postponed to allow for minor adjustments and more discussion, with the issue expected to return in October.
  
  
• The fourth "Healthy Experiences, Lasting Positivity" (HELP) Summit was held at the Medicine Hat Stampede’s Grandstand Banquet Room, attracting its largest audience to date. Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright highlighted the Summit’s success in identifying gaps in local mental health services and raising awareness about available resources. The event featured presentations from organizations such as McMan, Recovery Alberta, and the Global Village Centre, focusing on community engagement and resource-sharing. Wright emphasized the importance of connecting individuals with appropriate services and fostering collaboration among local agencies. Nearly 90 attendees participated, including professionals from social programs, healthcare, education, and local government.

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