City Notebook: The last word on Lich?

By COLLIN GALLANT on March 11, 2023.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Readers burned up the News lines this week wondering why we chose to focus on Tamara Lich’s appearance at last week’s provincial budget.

We also got an earful about selecting her Newsmaker of 2022.

But, publicity stunt or not, the event raises some newsworthy discussion.

Danielle Smith was quizzed by reporters this week about the invite offered by neighbouring MLA Drew Barnes.

“I know Drew Barnes in particular was very concerned about getting the right balance between how we approach public health orders and freedoms, so I think that was the point he was making, but you’ll have to ask him about his motivation,” Smith said at a presser to discuss health spending on Monday.

Smith’s first words about it might be the final word on the event, but is it the final word on the issue?

The Independence Party of Alberta would think not.

It was byelection candidate Bob Blayone who challenged then-candidate Smith to look into allegedly flawed science of COVID. The party will now kick off a tour of prominent skeptics in Medicine Hat later this month.

In January, MLA Smith dialed back a promised inquiry into COVID-19 response to a public policy examination by Preston Manning rather than a look at the science of the pandemic and vaccine.

And as for the Lich invite, for as many UCP members who saw it as one MLA upending the neighbouring MLA on budget day, there were probably as many likely UCP voters who thought it was great.

Hatters afar

It’s Juno weekend in Edmonton and Ron Sakamoto is set to receive a special award for the concert promotor’s contributions to Canadian music over a 50-year-career.

He was born in Coaldale, and now lives in Lethbridge, but 20 years in the Hat makes him ours, wouldn’t you agree?

The major concert promoter also had his first club in the Hat, if you recall the “Honeycomb A Go Go” in the mid-1960s.

The “Walt Greavis Special Achievement Award” will be presented Saturday night, with proceedings broadcast on various streaming services of the CBC online.

As well, Sakamoto’s nephew Mark is being toasted in Calgary this week as the play based on his book “Forgiveness: A Gift from my Grandparents” debuts there.

Speaking of country

The Medicine Hat Stampede is prepped and rarin’ to release the concert lineup for this summer’s outdoor grandstand shows. The big reveal takes place on Tuesday morning.

Comings and goings

It’s been a round trip of sorts for departing Medicine Hat Regional Airport manager Jeff Huntus, who retired from the position last week.

That’s after a 40-year career that began in northern Ontario where he got his first job in public service from the local county manager, a man named Ross Mitchell.

As it turns out, that was the father of Ann Mitchell, the new Medicine Hat city manager, who noted the connection this week while providing Huntus with a departing handshake and thanks from the city.

Taking over the top position at the airport is Logan Boyd, formerly the operations manager.

A look ahead

The city’s public services committee meets Monday to discuss recreation facilities and the schedule for a report into maintenance and longer-term capital plans.

Another piece of the Alberta election puzzle will fall into place this week as United Conservative members decide on their candidate in the Cypress-Medicine Hat riding.

100 years ago

The Calgary Canadians “walloped” the Regina Patricias in a two-game playoff series and would face the University of Manitoba in the Western Canadian Junior Hockey championship series, the News reported in early March 1923.

The Ontario Memorial Cup qualifier saw Kitchener beat Iroquois Falls in a sudden-death game that concluded shortly before a losing player was arrested for biting a police officer.

Premier Herbert Greenfield, of the United Farmers, drew the ire of cattlemen after announcing that grants to livestock associations would be reduced to battle a projected $2-million provincial deficit.

Fascists in Berlin called for all members of the Jewish faith to be jailed and used as hostages as the Allied Council occupied the Ruhr region in an ongoing reparations dispute.

An oil rush in Oklahoma saw the Gypsy Oil Co. pay $1 million for mineral rights to one quarter-section.

King Gustav of Sweden, 64, caused a stir by registering to compete at the French Open Tennis Tournament under the name “Mr. G.”

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