Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 221

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• The Public Services Committee will meet today at 3:45 pm. The Committee will hear the Friends of Medalta’s 2024 Annual Report. It highlights a year of growth, change, and continued community support. The organization welcomed more visitors to the Historic Clay District, reflecting rising public interest in local and Canadian heritage. Exhibitions blended historical themes with contemporary art, while markets, workshops, and school programs reinforced Medalta’s role as both a cultural and educational hub. Financially, the support of Plainsman Clays Limited remained crucial to stability, helping Medalta post a surplus. The year also saw the retirement of a long-serving staff member and the cancellation of the Black and White Gala, making room for new community events. Nearly 70,000 people were engaged through exhibitions, events, and education.
  
  
• Council postponed two major decisions at its latest meeting. A funding request of up to $15.9 million for a new Stampede grandstand was delayed after organizers asked for more time to refine their economic plan. The Transportation Master Plan, along with related strategies, was also pushed to early 2026 following significant public feedback that residents felt unheard, raising concerns about road widths, project costs, and traffic-calming measures. Council heard that many participants opposed curb extensions and had mixed views on roundabouts, while City staff pledged to improve engagement processes going forward. 
  
  
• The Alberta Utilities Commission has approved Medicine Hat’s East Ring Enhancement Project, allowing the City to replace and upgrade 24 kilometres of aging transmission lines. The upgrade will prepare the system for a future increase in capacity from 69 to 138 kilovolts, ensuring it can handle expected residential and commercial growth. City officials noted that the approval process involved extensive consideration of environmental impacts, public input, and technical requirements, with the City’s preferred route ultimately chosen. Public engagement began in 2023, and the project application was formally submitted in 2024. The approved route runs from Brier Park through Crescent Heights, Ranchlands, Parkview, and Veinerville, extending into Cypress County before looping back through Southlands. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and finish by 2029. Maps and project details are available on the City’s Shape Your City platform.
  
  
• Brian Varga, a former two-term Councillor, has officially entered Medicine Hat’s fall civic election, becoming the first past Councillor to register. Varga narrowly missed re-election last time, finishing ninth, but says he still has the passion and experience needed for the role. A longtime local landscaper and former Medicine Hat Tigers player, he has deep community ties through business, family, and hockey. Varga emphasizes the importance of fiscal responsibility, keeping taxes and utility costs affordable, and ensuring facilities are well maintained or replaced when necessary. He also stresses the need for Council to rebuild trust, work together as a team, and strengthen its relationship with the City Manager, Province, and federal government. Reflecting on his previous eight years on Council, including during the pandemic, he highlights his ability to navigate challenges and keep finances steady. He says his main motivation is serving the people of Medicine Hat and ensuring the city remains a strong, affordable place to live.
  
  
• Another candidate has also entered the race. Dave Toth says the City must expand its tax base if it wants to stop raising taxes year after year. A lifelong resident and longtime Goodyear employee, Toth describes himself as a “hands-on, ball cap, T-shirt guy” who is ready to bring practical leadership to city hall. His top priority is restoring decision-making power to Council and cutting red tape so projects can move forward more quickly. Toth also wants to attract new businesses by offering incentives like tax and utility cuts, which he believes will generate jobs and strengthen the city’s economy. He argues that job creation must be paired with affordable housing and programs to address crime and homelessness, suggesting modular housing as one possible solution. Pointing to growth in nearby communities like Lethbridge and Taber, Toth says Medicine Hat risks falling behind if it does not act. He stresses the importance of teamwork on Council, with a Mayor and Councillors working without “outside agendas.”
  
  
• Cheryl Phaff is also running in the election, promising to push for a three-year property tax freeze to keep life affordable. Though new to municipal politics, she brings experience as a former Wildrose Party director who helped elect 10 MLAs provincially. Phaff says her top priority is restoring public trust by building a respectful, effective Council that delivers practical, common-sense results. She emphasizes economic growth as vital for jobs and income, pledging to support both small businesses and larger industries interested in Medicine Hat. Alongside growth, she wants to address crime and homelessness with a mix of enforcement for repeat offenders and expanded access to housing and treatment. As a business owner, Phaff believes her background equips her to manage budgets responsibly and communicate well with staff and Council. 

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