City Notebook: Hemp offers some refreshing potential for the local region
By COLLIN GALLANT on March 9, 2019.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant People like big job numbers in their economic development announcements, and business reporters are guilty of this, too. That’s partly why a panel discussion this week on broad acre hemp growing in the region was so refreshing and – forgiving the pun – earthy. The Local to Global trade conference in town heard that companies are clamouring to buy hemp and farmers are generally curious about growing it. Due to the nature of the plant and the recent relaxation of growing regulations, few growers have reference points. How do you plant, feed, irrigate and take off plants that can be six feet tall? How it’s graded, sold, processed, shipped and priced is also out of a typical grain farmer’s experience. How much time is a producer going to dedicate to a crop that might only make up a small portion of a business or crop rotation plan? The Highway 3 region could become a hemp alley, its argued, with better education and a host of service providers, seed suppliers and growers working together to figure it all out. Signs of spring The break in deep-freeze-like weather provides the brightest sign that spring is on the way, a week after this column offered green shoots of hope on the calendar. We’re well into banquet season, with the Canadian Homebuilders Association awards (held Friday) and Saturday’s Bread and Roses Gala in support of the local women’s shelter. The Grapes & Gourmet Gala is set for Medalta Potteries on March 22, with proceeds of the Pritchard & Co. and Kiwanis sponsored event dedicated to the Medicine Hat sexual assault response program. One signal of progress forgotten last week was the passing of a deadline for RRSP contributions that occurred March 1 this year. Of course that means tax forms will soon be due. Sigh. Speaking of… This column recently mentioned that emcee-about-town Ken Sauer was taking a break from the annual State of the City luncheon, but we’re now told he was simply double booked. An out-of-town fundraising casino in support of the 55-Plus Senior Games (held this July in the Hat), was Sauer’s priority that day. He says he plans to be back at the mic next January, and thanked Kiwanis president Ron Holmes for stepping in on short notice. Community spirit Local real estate office Re/Max Medalta returned home from the Re/Max Western Canadian Awards last month with the Community Care Award in tow. That’s emblematic of service and support to the local area, and agency head Dionne Todd notes the office’s realtors and agent teams collecting sales awards recognition for the cumulative effort was something special. The award citation lists support for adopt-a-family, the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, Movember prostate cancer initiative, food and diaper drives, community movie nights, the Miracle Home program and 20,000 bulbs toward the Daffodil Project. As a random act of kindness, the office delivered pies to first responders on March 16 last year. The date (3.16, or the approximate value of Pi in geometry), is coming up again in short order. A look ahead The Alberta legislature resumes sitting one week from Monday. The federal budget is the next day on March 19. 100 year ago The first ever personal income tax forms in Canada were available at the post office, the News reported in early March 1919. Only incomes above $1,000 for unmarried persons or $2,000 for married, were subject to tax. The area’s United Farmers of Alberta chapters held a joint meeting in Medicine Hat to consider launching political action in future elections. Provincial UFA leader Henry Wise Wood would attend. A proposal for southern Alberta cricket league was making the rounds. City Hall’s petition to the provincial government to update the city’s charter was partly accepted. Denied was a request to end the practice of removing elected officials from office if their taxes fell into arrears – however a property requirement of $200 for those seeking public office was abolished. A total of 55 Hatters had sat for the chauffeurs licence examination. The new classification was required by not only livery drivers, but also mechanics, delivery drivers and anyone who operated a vehicle in their employment. Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com 32-31
