City notebook: Slick times in rural Alberta

By Collin Gallant on November 24, 2018.

Oil, oil, and oil were the main topics covered by Premier Rachel Notley this week when she addressed the Rural Municipal Association’s annual conference.

In response to gaping differential on exports, Alberta will speed up announcements on upgrading grants, expand support programs for petrochemical plants, and could invest in a fleet of tanker rail cars.

Another bit of news slipped in there relates to her government’s move to create a revenue-sharing formula with cities to replace the infrastructure grant program.

The Municipal Sustainability Initiative might sound boring — who doesn’t love a good initiative? — but it has a major effect on your taxes.

Governments are quick to outline capital construction spending isn’t an operational expense, but, if it’s debt financed, repaying that debt is absolutely an operating expense.

For example, Medicine Hat’s MSI outlay each year is about $11 million toward capital projects that would most likely be debt financed without the grant.

At today’s 10-year fixed borrowing rate of 3.15 per cent, such payments would total $1.2 million annually, therefore requiring a 1.5 per cent tax increase. Multiply that by the 11 years that MSI has been in place and compound the result.

Three other initiatives announced at this week’s reeves and rural mayors conference include a renewable power program allowing rural groups, including grazing co-ops to take equity stakes in mid-sized power projects, new efforts for grain bag recycling and an expansion of cattle feeders loan programs.

Dumps like a truck

Continuing with a week of scoops regarding the city landfill, Hatters can expect to see brand new, bright yellow fleet of trucks picking up their recycling next summer.

Danny Ardellini is the president of Toronto-based Environmental 360 Solutions, which boasts Paul Coffey as a major investor and this week bought Alberta based Can Pak Environmental.

That company holds the local city recycling contract, and Ardellini told the News he ordered the new trucks on Thursday.

Christmas Calendar

— The Medicine Hat Arts, Fibre Arts and Potters clubs conclude their joint sale of wares at the Cultural Centre this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— The Joyful Sounds Ladies chorus presents “Winter is a Quiet Celebration on Sunday at 2 p.m., at Fifth Avenue Memorial Church.

— St. John’s Presbyterian is hosting its annual craft table and supper to coincide with Midnight Madness on the Friday, Nov. 30. Watch the News this week for a preview of city centre happenings.

— The “Christmas party for the animals” will be held on Dec. 1 and 2 at the Medicine Hat SPCA, from noon til 4 p.m. each day. Gifts of toys, food, money or other pet care items are appreciated.

Quick ones

‘Tis the season… for bull sales. A report from the Agribition in Regina on Friday notes that local outfit Riverfront Angus Ranch secured the reserve champion nod for the breed. By the way, the Medicine Hat Beef Pen Show is set to take place on Dec. 14-15.

We’ve said it before… in every postal strike we hear a lot about how Canada Post isn’t needed in the modern world anymore right up until Ottawa, citing immense threat to the economy, brings in back-to-work legislation.

A look ahead

City committees won’t meet in public this week but final drafts of utility business plans are being readied for council consideration on Dec. 3.

100 years ago

Medicine Hat city council formed a “civic reconstruction committee” to determine the city’s ability to welcome home returning troops and determine local labour, the News reported on Nov. 21, 1919.

A News editorial said industrious effort in the city during the war must be extended to peace-time development effort.

“It is generally conceded that the next few years will be a period of tremendous industrial expansion in Canada. Those cities first in the field will reap the advantage for their preparedness.”

Also that week, Hatters surpassed their $1 million goal in the 2018 Victory Loan campaign with 2,355 subscribers putting forth $1.072 million, or about $450 each on average.

Dental offices were allowed to reopen after they were closed by health officials looking to stem the spread of Spanish influenza.

Scientists recommended peace time uses for newly created implements of war, including gas masks to protect mine workers and poison gas as pesticide on food crops.