City Notebook: More politics? Please!

By Collin Gallant on November 30, 2024.

It’s a bad thing to appear “political” these days, especially for elected officials who don’t want to be seen as having prejudged issues lest they appear deaf to the opinions of voters.

The last council group in Medicine Hat was shown the door by voters who felt most decisions were settled before they ever arrived at the council table, or even in the public square.

Currently and for the last three years, Hatters have likely wondered why more hasn’t been done when issues arrive at council’s agenda. It’s common for issues tall and small to run through a round of questions, then be referred back to staff for more information.

That’s as Mayor Linnsie Clark has complained loud and clear about the power wielded by bureaucrats, yet even she is among the group quick to call for additional staff reports, more analysis and other suggestions before council approaches a final say-so.

It’s not a bad thing to be well-informed, but the public mood the western world over appears to be in favour of quicker, more definitive action.

What to do with feral cats was an example, so too deer, and a utility rate review promised in 2021, among others.

So too in the last election there was supposed to be a debate about public ownership of the city’s power company.

Now, three years later and a local meltdown over high power profits last year (and strife this year over low profits) we have a question of forming a municipally controlled power company to, essentially, remove politics from the issue.

Through it all, every politician has been mostly mum on the subject while the report presented last week was in process.

Now that it’s out in front of council and the public, is it too hasty to act decisively one way or the other?

What role will frustration play in hastening a decision that is a sea-change in 120 years as a public power provider?

It might help if residents knew the stance of council members on the proposition.

That’s a political decision to be made, one way or the other, that politicians need to make and own.

Memorial Cup

The Hat’s disappointment that the 2026 Memorial Cup will be held in Kelowna, not here, is detailed in another column in this edition by whiz-bang sports reporter James Tubb.

However, it’ll be hard not to believe hockey fans will come to the conclusion that the world is against the city, somehow. Or, perhaps, it will reinforce the self-held belief that no one in this city can do anything right. Either way it stings.

Ironic, too, is that the Tigers’ appearance at the tournament 19 years ago in the Okanagan city, with its downtown rink, essentially launched local hopes of replacing the Medicine Hat Arena and vying to bring the tournament here one day.

A look ahead

Council will begin debate on the final draft of the 2025-26 budget on Monday night during its regular council meeting. That will need to be passed on Dec. 16 before year-end. A special meeting of council has been scheduled for Dec. 9 to receive staff analysis of recommendations on a energy division report received this week.

100 years ago

“Independent” candidate for mayor R.B. Davidson told a forum there was no truth the rumours he was supported by the Native Sons of Canada organizing in the city, the News reported on Dec. 4, 1924.

He told a crowd at Alexandra High School that he felt it unfair to order the city treasurer hire only men of British nationality.

Incumbent Walter Huckvale presented utility figures as a signal of progress and sound economic planning, but otherwise, there was “no great enthusiasm” at a second a candidates forum in the annual municipal election.

That same week, a 20-month-old baby boy was killed when he was struck on the train tracks while in the care of a babysitter.

The public schools budget in Medicine Hat would be $180,000 in 2024, paid for in part by a local tax requisition for $13,834.

Henry Towers, who had jumped from his jailer’s grip and off a train rolling through Medicine Hat was recaptured in Saskatchewan and sentenced to three years in jail for a jewel theft.

A shorthorn heifer named “Princeton Rosewood” placed first at the International Livestock Show in Chicago. The specimen was the entry of the Prince of Wales ranch near High River.

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.