Council will push province for regional COVID approach

By COLLIN GALLANT on February 2, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Medicine Hat city council will request the province take a regional approach that they say could mean local pandemic restrictions lifted sooner.

Council approved sending a letter requesting the change from a province-wide view with a 9-0 count, though as many as four said they hope it at least would “start a dialogue” about why or why not.

Coun. Darren Hirsch raised the issue through a notice of motion, stating that Medicine Hat’s active case number – 16 on Monday – is below the point when stricter rules were implemented in early December.

“(Regional lifting) doesn’t preclude anyone from staying in their own homes or doing what they can to protect themselves,” he said. “It gives our youth and businesses a fighting chance.”

Some business people and youth sports groups have been vocal about allowing more leeway locally.

Last week the province announced a general restart schedule, but one based on hospitalization rates rather than cases.

“The intent is to start a dialogue,” said Hirsch, whose motion requires a letter be sent on behalf of council to Premier Jason Kenney.

“(Let’s) not be dictated that our fortunes should rise or fall based on larger centres.”

Coun. Robert Dumanowski said he supported discussion, but reserved judgment on a regional approach.

“In the big picture it makes sense, but what are the ramifications (on controlling the spread) … we don’t have that information right now.”

Couns. Julie Friesen and Jamie McIntosh, and even Hirsch, said the letter should ask that the current approach be better explained or potentially changed.

“The longer this goes the harder it is going to be to keep people following the rules,” said McIntosh.

Medicine Hat council voted in a mask bylaw in early December as local active cases rose steeply to more than 120.

The province followed shortly with cross-provincial measures limiting business capacity and closing some entirely to clients.

Coun. Jim Turner asked city officials earlier in the evening why the province wasn’t releasing local COVID hospitalization numbers.

“I think that’s very important when they’re talking about using hospitalization rates,” he said, later seconding Hirsch’s motion. “I think it’s important to show support for our local businesses.”

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