City notebook; Never a dull moment, is there?

By COLLIN GALLANT on March 23, 2024.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

It seems Medicine Hat made the half hour news radio update in Mitchell, Ont. on Friday.

That’s the hometown of News sportswriter James Tubb (the Southern Ontario town has a population of 4,500) and his parents called to find out what’s going on?

Many Hatters are asking that themselves after a seismic decision by city council on Thursday to remove most of Mayor Linnsie Clark’s power and duties and salary. (Turn to any other page in this edition to find out more, suffice it to say Clark says that it is disproportionate and she is seeking legal advice.)

Presented are a list of common questions, and maybe even some answers:

Does she stay or does she go?

Unknown. Clark says she’s evaluating options and could challenge the decision of council in court, but the whole thing is a can of worms, isn’t it? The blow-up between Clark and Mitchell didn’t look a lot different from the grilling she gave Bob Nicolay in early 2022 (with other councillors happily joining in) before his early retirement a month later.

Many Hatters could rightly ask what gives?

Others will be quick to think there’s more than meets the eye.

Busy 18 months?

Preliminary discussions about the 2024-25 budget start soon, a process that will include decisions on a major rec facilities plan. Substantial changes to land-use rules are expected to address housing concerns. A “clean energy” plan is being developed alongside an environmental road map, and a third-party review of the power plant and gas production business model is due in the fall.

Removed?

No. The Municipal Government Act doesn’t allow a council to remove the chief elected official if the specific position is filled in a general election.

It’s an important distinction, because it can happen in cases where the chief elected official is elected by council members after an election, as is common with reeves in counties or mayors in smaller centres and villages.

Election?

Does it start now? Byelection or not, probably, but not officially until Jan. 1, 2025 ahead of a vote that fall.

This all happens against the backdrop of the province apparently pushing forward with plans to allow political parties at the municipal level.

And there’s recall campaign in Calgary that is widely believed to be a exercise in compiling voter information ahead of the next general election. Didn’t we just have a recall petition here?

Spring arrives

Other mattersâ€¦ Snow this week potentially brought an end to false spring in Alberta, but playoff hockey could bring it back next week. Also, we now go tobogganing for the first time this winter while the snow lasts.

Of course, everyone knows that it’s not officially spring in Medicine Hat until you hear the air conditioners come on.

A look ahead

All eyes are on city council’s Monday meeting of the whole as members gather to hash out the city’s promised environmental framework in closed session before it is presented tot he public. Also, development incentives are ready and could be voted on Monday.

100 years ago

Medicine Hat would become a liquor distribution centre – the result of new liquor control billed passed after a plebiscite ended prohibition in favour of government controlled market,

“It is understood that arrangements are practically completed for obtaining large stocks of the best liquor procurable from Scottish distilleries,” the News gleefully noted on March 22, 1923.

For the first time in 20 years, total wages paid by the federal government fell during the 1923-24 budget year. A total of $401 million was $27 million less than the previous year.

German scientists claiming to have “solved the riddle of the Tar Sands” planned to build two extraction plants this summer. Dr. H.O. Zwarg had studied the issue since before the war and recently shipped four tons of bitumen to Germany to aid the investigation.

Unrelated, Standard Oil set it’s price at the Kevin-Sunburst field in Montana at $1.05 per barrel.

The Prairie Hockey League champion Calgary Tigers defeated the Vancouver Maroons, of the Pacific Coast League in a challenge series, thereby earning the right to enter a three-way tournament for the Stanley Cup in Montreal with the Canadiens.

Confused? The early series was played at railroad centres in the west as the teams were already on route to Montreal.

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