Local News
Council to consider 6.1% tax hike
By BRENDAN MILLER on April 1st, 2026
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com The city says in order to balance the budget and avoid falling further into debt, councillors must decide on either reducing costs by scaling back services, or increasing property taxes. During a corporate services committee meeting last week, staffers recommended council approve a 6.1 per cent municipal tax rate increase for all property classes ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!College receives funding to host first provincial Indigenous Learner Summit
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 1st, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com The province is providing Medicine Hat College a $60,000 funding grant to co-ordinate the first provincial Indigenous Learner Summit next spring. MHC announced Monday it was chosen to receive an Indigenous Learning Grant to be used to host the summit intended to bring together the post-secondary education system in support of Indigenous adult learners ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Mounties encourage residents with security cameras to share evidence
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 1st, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com RCMP released a public service announcement Tuesday encouraging homeowners, rural property owners and business owners to register security cameras with the RCMP’s national database. The Community Assisted Policing Through Use of Recorded Evidence, or CAPTURE, program is a voluntary registry that lets officers know where security cameras are located throughout the community. This knowledge ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Province to mandate balance on all issues taught in schools, pushing neutrality
By ZOE MASON on April 1st, 2026
zmason@medicinehatnews.com The Alberta government tabled a far-reaching new education bill Tuesday. The legislation, titled Bill 25: An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, proposes a slew of changes to the policy guiding education. Amendments in the bill would affect classroom neutrality, student and staff conduct, and rules around ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Province looks to enhance concept of Alberta whisky
By ZOE MASON on April 1st, 2026
zmason@medicinehatnews.com New legislation is seeking to create a separate designation for Alberta whisky, distinguishing it from classic Canadian rye. The Alberta Whisky Act would create new standards for a product to be marketed as Alberta Whisky. Alberta Whisky would remain a variation of Canadian Whisky. Existing Canadian whiskies would not qualify as Alberta whiskies unless ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Alberta gets emergency exemption for strychnine to help $800M gopher problem
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 1st, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com The federal government has authorized an emergency use of strychnine for pest control two years after imposing a ban on the chemical used to control gophers. Ottawa imposed the ban on strychnine in 2024 after finding it threatened other wildlife that may consume contaminated carcasses. Last summer, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation R.J. Sigurdson ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Shelter beds cut by 40% as Mustard Seed’s winter surge funding ends
By ZOE MASON on April 1st, 2026
zmason@medicinehatnews.com Winter surge funding is ending at the Mustard Seed on Wednesday, reducing the shelter’s total capacity from 50 to 30 beds. The Mustard Seed received a funding boost of $250,000 earlier this year to support the shelter’s surge capacity during the coldest months of winter. The funding was used to support the 20 additional ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!City announces free compost giveaway days for green-thumbs
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 1st, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com This year the City of Medicine Hat will host three compost giveaway events beginning in April with free SureGrow Multi-Purpose Compost for residents. The three dates are April 18, May 9 and Sept. 12 this year at 1453 Hutchinson Ave., across from the City of Medicine Hat Municipal Works facility along Kipling Street. Gardeners ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Notre Dame teacher nominated for provincial first-year award
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 1st, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com Stephanie Laing, a first-year teacher at Notre Dame Academy, has been chosen to represent the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education as its 2026 Alberta School Boards Association Edwin Parr Award nominee. Every year the Alberta School Boards Association honours six first-year teachers who have demonstrated excellence in the Teaching Quality Standard for the ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Alberta government to bring forward changes to citizen initiative act, court appointment procedure
By ZOE MASON on March 31st, 2026
zmason@medicinehatnews.com A new bill tabled Monday introduces another round of changes to legislation governing recalls and citizen initiative petitions. Bill 23 would update several pieces of legislation, including the Citizen Initiative Act and the Recall Act. “We are committed to protecting the integrity of our elections and our democracy, and we believe that these amendments ... Read More »
2 responsesProposed animal welfare update would be first changes to APA in 20 years
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 31st, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com Alberta is updating the legislation that outlines protections for animals. If passed, Bill 22 will update the Animal Protection Act for the first time in 20 years. “Whether it’s livestock on a farm or pets, animals deserve appropriate care and to be protected from distress. It’s an important topic,” said Minister of Agriculture and ... Read More »
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