Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 209

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• There will be a City Council meeting this afternoon, beginning with a closed session at 3:45 pm. Away from the public eye, Council will discuss a Development & Infrastructure Committee Matter, Proactive Disclosure Considerations, the Southern Alberta Regional Stormwater Drainage Committee and Council Strategy and Policy Development. The meeting will open up to the public at 6:30 pm.
  
  
• During the public portion of the meeting, Council will consider a recommendation to proactively publish certain HR and payroll metrics on the City’s website to improve transparency. The motion would direct Administration to include summaries of severance payments and bonuses in tri-annual reports, as well as quarterly updates on 12 statistical HR metrics - such as turnover, payroll, injury rates, new hires, and workplace complaints - provided there are more than five data points and no unreasonable invasion of privacy under FOIP laws. Administration cautioned that publishing some data may risk identifying individuals, particularly when the data set is small. To address this, the City is proposing aggregating data and only reporting metrics with sufficient volume to ensure anonymity.
  
  
• Council will also discuss launching a renewed City Centre Vibrancy Program, to run through the end of 2026, to support local businesses and property owners in revitalizing the downtown core. In response to challenges caused by ongoing road construction, the program will offer up to $30,000 per applicant - split evenly between a grant (funded by the City) and a matching interest-free loan (administered by Community Futures Entre-Corp). This structure is intended to help stimulate larger, high-impact projects and encourage faster uptake of funding compared to past programs. Eligible projects include facade upgrades, accessibility improvements, safety enhancements, patios, and utility work - excluding new building construction. Applications will be reviewed collaboratively by the City and CFEC, with grant funds released only after proof of completed work. The program aims to boost economic activity, improve downtown aesthetics, and help businesses weather the impact of construction disruptions. $100,000 per year has been allocated for the initiative in both 2025 and 2026, including a small administration fee for CFEC.
  
  
• Three former MLAs agree that Medicine Hat and Brooks should be separated into different provincial electoral ridings, rather than combined as they currently are. The Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission is reviewing boundaries due to population growth and must add two new ridings while balancing populations. The 2019 change combined urban Medicine Hat voters with rural Brooks, but critics say this blend complicates representation because the communities have distinct interests. Former MLAs Bob Wanner, Rob Renner, and Jim Horsman argue for returning to a pre-2017 setup where Medicine Hat had two ridings focused on the city and its surrounding areas. The Commission acknowledges Medicine Hat’s population is growing but not enough yet for two fully urban ridings. The Commission continues to seek public input as it works on boundary adjustments for the next election.
  
  
• The City of Medicine Hat is preparing to benefit from Canada’s planned increase in military spending, aiming to grow its local aerospace and defence sector. With Prime Minister Mark Carney committing to meet NATO’s 2% GDP defence spending target, local leaders say southeast Alberta is well-positioned due to assets like CFB Suffield and the Foremost drone testing range. They see strong potential in expanding aerospace companies and attracting new businesses, especially in advanced manufacturing and drone technologies. A recent City report highlights growth in 11 of 14 local aerospace firms but notes challenges including capital access, workforce shortages, and infrastructure needs. Plans focus on improving skills training, securing research funding, and possibly creating a regional industry hub. Defence Research and Development Canada is planning a major lab replacement at Suffield, signalling long-term commitment to the region’s defence industry.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Medicine Hat is considering shifting its energy operations to a Municipally Controlled Corporation (MCC), and wants public input.

A formal public hearing will take place on Tuesday, June 24 at 4:00 pm in Council Chambers, where residents can submit written or oral feedback. 

Full project details are available on the City’s website - take a look and then be sure to have your say!

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!