Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 205

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• On Tuesday at 3:45 pm City Council will meet, beginning, as usual, in a closed session. Away from the public eye, Council will discuss the Non-Union Salary Grid, a Complaint Process, the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission, and Council Strategy and Policy Development. When the meeting opens up to the public, at 6:30 pm, residents will hear about one of the items discussed during the closed session. The City is proposing updates to its non-union salary grids for the first time since 2013. A comprehensive review led by the People Services Department found that the existing grid was outdated and misaligned with market standards, prompting a redesign based on standardized job evaluations and compensation groups. The revised structure introduces tailored pay bands for different job families, including corporate, engineering/IT, and energy roles, reflecting market differentials and using benchmark data. The City says the update will not require additional funding, as the changes are being implemented within existing departmental budgets for salaries and hiring. If approved, the new structure will take effect June 1st, 2025, with employee communication and system integration to follow.
  
  
• The Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede (MHES) is requesting capital funding for a Grandstand Revitalization Project, aiming to modernize existing facilities and add a new conference centre. The total project cost ranges from $20 million to nearly $39 million, depending on the building plan chosen. Currently, MHES is asking the City for a $250,000 budget amendment to develop a concept design and costing for the reduced-cost option. Provincial funding of $478,000 has already been granted, contingent on a Facility Condition Assessment by August 2025. Future City funding may depend on the Province covering 40% of total project costs and MHES raising 10% through partners or donations. A Serecon report estimated MHES’ 2023 economic impact at up to $20.7 million but found that the revenue increases needed to repay a City loan would be unrealistic. Additionally, a City study raised concerns about the lack of demand and potential competition with existing venues.
  
  
• The City of Medicine Hat is considering creating a Municipally Controlled Corporation (MCC) to operate its energy business, including electric and gas utilities. The MCC would be wholly owned by the City but governed by a skills-based board, aiming to improve governance, reduce financial risk to taxpayers, and allow for better strategic and financial decision-making. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for June 24, 2025, and a companion Rate Review Committee (RRC) is also proposed to regulate energy rates independently. The move is driven by declining natural gas profits, aging infrastructure needing $500 million in upgrades over 10 years, and the need to adapt to energy transition regulations. The MCC would offer the same services in the same areas but would adopt private-sector financial reporting and have access to new funding tools. While the City would benefit from long-term dividends, initial cash flow may decline due to transferring reserves and capital to the MCC. Financial projections indicate the City’s reserves could fall into a negative position by 2033 under the proposed dividend structure.
  
  
• Medicine Hat's Integrity Commissioner has stopped accepting complaints against City Councillors following the official repeal of Council Conduct rules through Alberta’s Bill 50. The Integrity Commissioner, Michael Solowan, was appointed earlier this year under a two-year, $100,000 contract, and may still serve in an advisory role pending a council's decision. The repeal eliminates a complaint process that had allowed residents to report misconduct by elected officials, a system initially mandated in 2015. Alberta's government argued that codes of conduct were being misused and causing dysfunction in some Councils. The province plans to consult on new approaches, including the potential creation of a provincial municipal ethics commissioner.
  
  
• Sunshine Trolley tours in Medicine Hat have become so popular that the city’s tourism group is looking to add a third vintage trolley to its fleet. In 2024, the two current trolleys provided 266 trips, a dramatic increase from just 19 in the first year. Demand has surged thanks to a second, winterized trolley allowing year-round service, including seasonal events like Halloween and Christmas tours. Sightseeing trips reached 95% capacity, and the program also served 2,400 students through Rotary-sponsored school trips. The trolleys were also used for events such as an economic development conference. City Councillors praised the trolley’s success, calling it a source of community pride. Additional tourism highlights included strong hotel occupancy rates, increased visitor centre traffic, and expanded guided downtown tours and culinary events.
  
  
• Speaking of tourism, Tourism Medicine Hat has launched the 2025 edition of Experience Medicine Hat, its annual tourism guide. The magazine offers a full year of ideas for both visitors and locals, from parks and public art to festivals and food. Executive director Jace Anderson says the guide reflects the City’s two brand pillars: outdoor experience and emerging culture. More than 100 pages feature full-colour visuals and storytelling designed to showcase Medicine Hat’s creative identity and Indigenous heritage. Unlike traditional guides, it contains few ads and instead focuses on rich, cinematic content. Printed copies will be distributed across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and several US states, with the digital version already available. Anderson hopes the guide inspires travellers to see Medicine Hat as more than a stopover and to spend time exploring what makes the city unique.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Common Sense Medicine Hat is gearing up for the upcoming municipal election. 

We plan to survey all of the candidates for Mayor and Council. What questions do you think we should ask? Hit reply to this email and let us know your top priorities!

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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