Clarification: City’s Fair Entry report included out of date information
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on November 21, 2023.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews A recent report on the City of Medicine Hat’s “Fair Entry Program” included out of date information and an incorrect scale of qualifying incomes. The News published “City could review income thresholds to ‘Fair Entry'” on Nov. 16, and included the Statistics Canada low-income cutoffs (also known as LICO) for large urban areas. The correct figures from 2022 income tax forms to qualify in Medicine Hat are $25,146 for a single person, $31,304 for a couple or $46,726 for a family of four. A full list is available on the city’s website regarding the application process. As well, a utility credit system new in 2023 originally provided $300 in credits to qualifying households, spread out in $50 increments during high-use months. That was expanded in July to $1,200 annually – accomplished by adding $200 credits to accounts over the final five months of 2023. That is separate from the “cost relief” program approved in September that paid $200 per month for four months onto all residential bills. The program also provides a 75 per cent discount on rec passes and programming at the Esplanade, up to a maximum of $200 annually per recipient. 7-6
