City Notebook: UCP leaders debate in Hat

By COLLIN GALLANT on July 2, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

The road to the premier’s office will go through Medicine Hat later next month.

That’s according to sources which tell the News that a leadership debate has been awarded to the Gas City.

That’s one of maybe a couple-three that might be sanctioned by the party ahead of the October vote to replace outgoing premier Jason Kenney.

Kenney was a special guest at the Stampede’s president’s luncheon the last time a parade and full-blown event happened pre-pandemic in 2019. At that point he was leader of Alberta for less than three months.

Now, as many as 10 potential replacements might be two-stepping into town about the same time to win favour in a crowded race. They will, to some extent, have to discuss the concerns of the “Forgotten Corner.”

Logic, logistics and common sense says any party has to win a two-of-three combination of Calgary, Edmonton and rural area to win a provincial election.

It might be that Medicine Hat – with no shortage of supporters leaning to the Wildrose side of the United Conservative equation – is seen as a good rural testing ground.

Meanwhile…

Medicine Hat’s political scene is providing a bumper crop of conversation topics.

Local riding races are filling up with intrigue (see related stories in this edition), and politicians across Canada are jumping into the Tamara Lich debate and helping the Hat trend on social media for a week since her arrest.

She’ll be in custody in Ottawa until a hearing set for July 5. That looks awfully convenient to her supporters considering that time span includes Canada Day, and a planned Convoy Protest part II. Detractors will slap their foreheads realizing that an appearance would most certainly contravene bail conditions.

There’s no shortage of conservative splinter groups supporting the Hat-based organizer of the Convoy protest… People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier, Maverick Party leader Jay Hill, Alberta independence booster Paul Hinman, Independent MLA and UCP hopeful Todd Leowen, and though I’m not sure I’ve seen it, likely Danielle Smith and Pierre Pollievre.

Lich – who has said surprisingly little in public for someone who’s talked about so much – was most recently aligned with the Western bloc focused Maverick Party as a board member.

Current MP Glen Motz, no big fan of the Liberal government, said this week the legal process should play out, Lich has a legal good team, and let’s get on with it.

However, former Conservative MP LaVar Payne and current Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes are also backing Lich in a battle of public opinion.

Payne, who’s attended more than a few mandate protests in town, was front and centre at the Medicine Hat Remand Centre protest in support of Lich this week.

“I’m a freedom fighter,” he told the Rebel News, adding the RCMP and the Liberal government “stopped us from being Canadian and being free.”

Utility rates

A while back, I won a bet that natural gas wouldn’t see $10 again in the 2010s, but we’ll be tickling that rate in July 2022. Initial default price submissions to Alberta regulators sees the number $9.80 pop off the screen. That’s part of the floating rate calculation in the Hat (if you’re not in fixed pricing), and not much gas is burned in summer, but it’s enough to induce a cringe. Power prices are not much better, and the A/C usually gets a workout in July.

As for gasoline, the News got needled for pump prices “plunged” by 10 cents overnight on Wednesday, but anything other than a steady increase going up is a major event, no?

Also, yes, the accompanying picture showed a row of decommissioned gas pumps taken outside the News front door at the wreckage of the former Safeway gas station at the mall. But, how much excitement would have been added by a snap of another sign? It’s good to mix things up from time to time.

Here’s a sage thought provided by a wise sign at the intersection Kingsway Avenue and Dunmore Road a few years back: The high cost of living hasn’t affected its popularity.

A look ahead

Council sits Monday after the long weekend and will give budget authors direction after they present the key assumptions ahead of developing the 2023-24 city budget.

100 years ago

Their excellencies Lord and Lady Byng were welcomed by crowds in Riverside Park reception, then toured by car around Medicine Hat before a luncheon and afternoon ballgame, the News reported on pre-Dominion Day ceremonies on June 29, 1921.

As the first stop by train in Alberta, Byng was met by Premier Greenfield and local dignitaries.

“(Canadians) are doing the biggest thing that has ever been done – making the Canadian nation,” said the English field marshal, who had commanded Canadian troops at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. “And I want you to let me help you.”

He was a popular choice for governor general the previous year, since which time Lady Byng had become a fan of hockey.

The Medicine Hat intermediate baseball club, renamed as “The Byngs” that season, topped Calgary 6-3 and 12-7 in a double header. The weekend visit also included rounds of golf at the Medicine Hat Country Club.

Irvine hosted a “splendid” Dominion Day sports meet for the region, the news reported.

The Railway Commission reduced rates on carrying basic commodities by 7 and one-half per cent to address high inflation in the nation.

The News also published the names and grades of every child who had written exams at end of term.

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