Medicine Hat Mayor Linnsie Clark answers a question at Wednesday morning's Leadership Breakfast, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, at Chinook Village.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Local business and political leaders said it’s good to have friends in high places on Wednesday, the day after Premier Danielle Smith won the byelection in Brooks-Medicine Hat.
Smith appeared at an early morning Chamber of Commerce event with other local government officials, Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes and Member of Parliament Glen Motz and the long-schedule annual “Leadership Breakfast.”
The premier spoke about federal-provincial relations, a promised affordability package and touched on some local needs during a five-minute address before leaving prior to a question and answer period to attend another event.
Smith told the crowd of about 150 at Chinook Village she takes “the trust and confidence put in me very seriously. If there’s one criticism that can be levelled at politicians everywhere is that too many of us lose sight of the people who elected us.”
She also said she has a good handle on local issues from the campaign.
“I can tell you that Highway 3, the Wild Horse Crossing and there’s a hospital in Bassano that needs upgrades, that have already been elevated on our capital (priorities) list,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll have good news to announce on that soon.”
Much of the other general discussion revolved around economic development and collaboration in the region, though Barnes, a former United Conservative and now independent, used his time to call for long-standing issues of reducing taxes and twinning Highway 3.
Medicine Hat Mayor Linnsie Clark told the audience the city is now engaged with neighbours on joint economic development along with other issues, including addressing mental health and addictions issues in the area.
Further collaboration with the province is needed, said Clark.
“Everyone’s looking forward to hear more about what Premier Smith’s vision for the community is, and getting down to working together towards some of our priorities,” she told reporters afterwards.
The city is developing a regional carbon capture hub and is in a partnership with he City of Brooks toward creating local hydrogen production and demand. Those will require “significant support” from the province and industry, Clark told attendees.
Smith has stated general support for both.
During the campaign, Smith met with members of all three councils in the Medicine Hat area on Oct. 30 in a 90-minute session prior to a campaign rally at the Medicine Hat Lodge.
A similar meeting with local elected officials in the Brooks area occurred the previous day.
Medicine Hat Chamber president Scott Lehr said the group is non-partisan, but he believes Smith will give attention to business issues.
“From the chamber’s perspective it could be real benefit to have the premier as our MLA – to be able to go straight to the top with our concerns,” said Lehr.
“Hopefully it will get more acknowledgement of our area and bring economic dollars to us.”
The riding covers the northern portions of Cypress County as well as Redcliff, Newell County, City of Brooks and in the far west, the town of Bassano.
Cypress County associate reeve Richard Oster attended on behalf of Cypress County councillors as Rural Municipalities conference is on now in Edmonton.
“It’s huge that we could be fortunate to have her represent a part of the county,” said Oster. “We’ve had good relationships with ministers, but this is a next step further to get a one-on-one relationship with the premier. I can’t see it doing anything but good.
“We may not agree on everything, but we’ll have a stronger voice.”
Redcliff Mayor Dwight Kilpatrick said building the relationship with the top elected official may involve a feeling-out process, but should be positive.
“It’s a first for me,” he joked. “When we’ve looked for provincial assistance, we’ve always gone through our MLAs. Having a premier as MLA might, or should, help that.”
