Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 212

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• There will be a meeting of City Council this afternoon at 3:45 pm. The meeting begins with a closed session, wherein Council will discuss Litigation Matters, a Collective Bargaining Update, a Land Matter, a Regional Composting Initiative, and Council Strategy and Policy Development, all away from public view. At 6:30 pm, the meeting will open up to the public.
  
  
• During the public portion of the Council meeting, there will be a public hearing regarding the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The TMP updates Medicine Hat’s 2013 plan, outlining how the City intends to manage its transportation system. The plan includes policies to improve walking, cycling, and transit services. It also focuses on fostering a culture shift away from single-occupancy vehicles. Some initiatives include preparing for more electric vehicles by expanding charging infrastructure and considering electric transit fleets. The plan estimates multimillion-dollar costs for road and transit infrastructure upgrades, with some major road projects alone costing tens of millions. The City has received 90 written submissions regarding the TMP. Of these, 4 were in support and 86 were in opposition.
  
  
• The City plans to allocate approximately $814,000 in Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) grants for 2026-2027, following recommendations from the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board. Out of 17 applications totalling nearly $2 million in funding requests, only about 41% can be granted due to limited funds. Grants will support various social programs, including food security initiatives, mental health counselling, cultural liaison services, violence prevention, and youth support. Recipients include organizations like the Medicine Hat Public Library, which will expand cultural programming, and the Southwest Alberta Immigrant Settlement Society, which offers newcomer support. The funding is shared 80/20 between provincial and municipal sources, requiring the City to contribute around $163,000. Funded groups will enter into formal agreements and report on their program outcomes.
  
  
• Medicine Hat College is celebrating its 60th anniversary this September, marking its evolution from a small junior college in 1965 with fewer than 100 full-time students to an institution with over 2,000 students today. Originally offering only university transfer programs, the college has grown to include over 40 programs, including certificates, diplomas, degrees, and apprenticeships. Major milestones include the opening of its main campus in 1971, an expansion to Brooks in 1990, the launch of online services in 1996, and new facilities like the library expansion in 2003 and the Centre for Innovation in 2023. The College is especially known for its health-care programming and will introduce a pharmacy technician program this fall. Earlier this year, it received a historic $5-million donation from the Yuill Family Foundation. To commemorate the anniversary, MHC has released over 100 historical photos on its website.
  
  
• Some extracurricular and activity fees in Medicine Hat public schools will increase next year due to rising costs in transportation, food, and supplies. The fee hikes, approved by school trustees, will affect optional programs such as sports teams, field trips, and arts activities. For example, Medicine Hat High Hawks wrestlers and volleyball players will face higher fees because of increased travel and accommodation expenses. Alexandra Middle School will also raise fees for its basketball team and various programs, including construction, cosmetology, drama, and food studies. Additionally, ski and outdoor education trips at several schools will cost more due to transportation expenses. New programs and clubs are being introduced, such as a running club at Dr. Ken Sauer School and a Performing Arts Academy at Medicine Hat Christian School, with small participation fees.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Recent changes to Alberta’s municipal elections now require all voters to register before casting their ballots. 

The next municipal election takes place on October 20th, and you can register in advance by August 15th using the online voter registration system. 

(If you miss this deadline, you can still register and vote in person on election day.)

Click here to register now:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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