Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 263

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• The Committee of the Whole meets today at 2:30 pm, but the meeting will be held entirely behind closed doors. Councillors will take up five matters in private: the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, an energy business matter, an economic development discussion, business licensing, and Council's summer schedule.
  
  
• Mayor Linnsie Clark and the City of Medicine Hat filed statements of defence in May responding to lawsuits brought by former City Manager Ann Mitchell. In documents filed with the Court of King's Bench in Calgary, both defendants deny all allegations and argue that Mitchell's two separate suits are duplicative, amount to an abuse of process, and should be dismissed for risking wasted court resources and inconsistent judgements. Mitchell's claim against Clark seeks $897,000 for defamation and contract interference, while her claim against the City seeks $465,000 for wrongful dismissal. Clark denied all wrongdoing and asserted she acted in good faith in carrying out her duties as Mayor, and the City maintains the termination was for just cause. In its defence, the City outlines new allegations, saying an independent investigator retained in September 2025 examined claims that Mitchell made problematic statements about elected officials and tried to coerce a senior director into retiring. The City further alleges Mitchell authorized staff to acquire her a work vehicle despite direction that she was not entitled to one, and used City resources for her personal consulting business. 
  
  
• The City of Medicine Hat has paused its portable skate ramp pilot project and removed the ramps from East Glen Rink after residents raised concerns about excessive noise. City officials said the ramps were scheduled to be taken out by the end of the day Friday so staff could assess modifications that might reduce the sound generated during use. The pilot was launched to explore ways of increasing year-round recreational use of outdoor rinks and other City-owned spaces through portable skate infrastructure. Project Manager Jeremy Patton said feedback from residents and the skateboarding community drove the decision, adding that portable amenities can expand access to recreation but must also be compatible with surrounding neighbourhoods. The pause means the ramps will not be relocated to Heald Rink as originally planned until staff determine whether the infrastructure is a suitable fit in parks next to residential areas. The City said it remains committed to addressing the noise concerns and identifying appropriate locations, with further updates to come once future sites are determined.
  
  
• The City of Medicine Hat is offering residents a chance to collect free firewood through a one-day timber permit event on Saturday, July 11th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Crews identified an above-average amount of deadfall in a section of coulees on the southeast hill, and participants will be allowed to remove wood from two designated zones. Taking part requires a permit application and a safety waiver completed in advance, with the waiver signed in person at the Parks and Recreation office at 88 Kipling Street SE in the presence of a City staff member. The permit form can be filled out online and emailed to the Parks department or dropped off in person, and applications must be submitted by 4:30 pm on Monday, July 6th. Approved participants will meet with City staff on Alexandra Street SE before accessing the site. Officials say the removed wood would otherwise be mulched or used in City operations, and that the program both reduces debris and helps revitalize the area.
  
  
• WestJet closed its routes to Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, ending the only scheduled passenger air service to the two southern Alberta cities and leaving residents unable to fly directly out of their hometowns for the first time in decades. Medicine Hat airport officials say they contacted nearly two dozen smaller airlines hoping to replace the service, and are now awaiting the results of a provincial call for proposals that closes on July 6th. The Government of Alberta has signalled it would spend up to $5 million over two years to boost connectivity between regional centres and the major airports in Calgary and Edmonton. Councillor Yusuf Mohammed, who chairs the City committee overseeing the municipal airport and economic development, called air service important to the region's future. Airport manager Logan Boyd said about 60% of airport revenue is tied to WestJet's operations and a near-$500,000 annual deficit is now predicted, though he remains hopeful of attracting a right-sized carrier to serve the city of 69,000. WestJet, which announced the cuts in February as a money-saving measure, declined to comment.

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