Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 211

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• At a recent public hearing, residents and Councillors debated the proposed creation of a Municipally Controlled Corporation (MCC) to manage the City’s energy utility. The plan would give the new corporation operational independence through a board of directors, though major decisions would still require Council approval. Critics expressed concerns about transparency, reduced Council oversight, and the risk of future privatization. City officials insisted that the MCC model actually adds safeguards, such as public hearings and a unanimous shareholders agreement to limit authority. Councillors questioned the extent of the board's powers, especially regarding large projects like the Saamis Solar Park. Some residents and former Councillors supported having experienced professionals manage the utility, but others doubted whether the board’s proposed compensation and limited scope would attract top talent. The proposal will be debated further on July 21st, but City staff said a final agreement likely won’t be reached before the October election.
  
  
• Medicine Hat’s public schools will soon launch Prairie Sky Collegiate, a new three-year trades-focused program for high school students across Southeastern Alberta. Developed through a partnership between the Medicine Hat Public School Division, Grasslands Public School Division, and Lethbridge Polytechnic, the Collegiate will train students in the electrical, transportation, culinary and construction trades. In Year 1, students will explore 11 areas within these trades, mainly working in upgraded labs at their high schools. By Year 2, they’ll focus on a specific trade and complete hands-on learning at Lethbridge Polytechnic. In Year 3, students will move into apprenticeships or internships in their communities. Superintendent Tracy Hensel says the program aims to open doors for students and build a prepared workforce. Plans are also in place to expand Prairie Sky Collegiate’s programs to include health sciences and criminal justice in the future.
  
  
• The City of Medicine Hat has launched a new tax exemption program aimed at boosting the local housing supply and encouraging multi-unit developments. The Residential Tax Exemption Program has officially started following recent changes to the Municipal Government Act that give municipalities more flexibility to offer multi-year property tax breaks. The program targets newly built multi-unit residential buildings within city limits and offers developers a break on the municipal portion of property taxes, calculated on the increase in assessed value after construction. According to the City’s economic development director, Selena McLean-Moore, this incentive is designed to stimulate smart growth, help meet rising housing demand and revitalize neighbourhoods without cutting into the City’s current tax revenue. The size and duration of each tax break will depend on a project’s location and unit count.
  
  
• A historic $5-million donation from the Yuill Family Foundation will help transform cardiac care for Medicine Hat and surrounding communities. Announced this week at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, the gift is the largest ever received by the Medicine Hat Health Foundation. The funds will be used, in part, to purchase a new Echocardiography Lab and Cardiac CT scanner, cutting down on patient travel to Lethbridge for diagnostics and freeing up capacity at Chinook Regional Hospital. Another part of the donation will also fund specialized beds for the Cardiac ICU and community-based prevention programs. Bill and Elizabeth Yuill’s gift builds on their long legacy of supporting local health care, including the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre. With heart disease rates higher than the provincial average, local leaders say this funding comes at a critical time.
  
  
• Medicine Hat’s proposed Transportation Master Plan is a long-term policy document meant to guide City planning for the next 30 years, with a focus on improving safety, embracing future technologies, and enhancing active transportation like walking and cycling. The plan, developed over two years, does not lay out specific project designs but instead outlines general corridor upgrades based on development needs and infrastructure conditions. Some proposed projects include a $7.45 million multi-use path along Third Street Northwest and potential upgrades to Kingsway Avenue that may affect vehicle lanes. Although the plan aims to balance vehicle travel with active transportation goals, it has faced criticism from residents and business owners who say they were not properly consulted. A public hearing is scheduled for July 7th to gather more feedback. The City says that all future projects will undergo separate public engagement before moving forward.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

We don’t usually ask for donations in these Minute emails, but summer is a challenging time for non-profits like ours, and your support makes all the difference.

If you value the work we’re doing, now’s a great time to chip in and help us stay on track: