MLAs given pension message over the weekend as NDP town halls near
By Medicine Hat News on January 30, 2024.
@MedicineHatNews Two MLA offices in Medicine Hat were postered over the weekend with messages decrying the province’s exploration of a provincial pension plan as the issue promises to make headlines this week. On Wednesday, the opposition New Democrats will hold an in-person meeting in Medicine Hat to discuss the issue, which they oppose. A newly announced town hall meeting with local United Conservatives MLA’s Justin Wright and Premier Danielle Smith will be held Friday. Motorists in Medicine Hat were treated to about two dozen signs on the Division Avenue N. satellite office of the Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Smith, while social media shows scores of other government caucus members received the same treatment. Similar handmade signs were placed on the Lethbridge office of Utilities and Affordability Minister Nathan Neudorf, with the protest group “the Raging Grannies” taking credit. Statements generally called on Smith to halt work on exploring how the province could leave the Canadian Pension Plan, which was announced in mid-September, though advertising and telephone town halls on the subject were ended in December. In response, the NDP announced it would hold nine in-person meetings into early February starting with events in Lethbridge (Tuesday) and Medicine Hat (on Wednesday). Registration is required for the event that will feature finance critic Shannon Phillips, the MLA for Lethbridge-West, as speaker. Friday’s UCP MLA town hall follows one held in October during which Smith and Wright discussed a number of topics with attendees at the Medicine Hat Public Library theatre. No registration is required for the event that runs 5-6:30 p.m. Reversed dates for utility meeting Two events detailed recently in the News were attached to incorrect dates. A meeting of the Medicine Hat Utility Ratepayers Association will meet tonight, 6:30 p.m. at Higdon Hall on the Medicine Hat Stampede Grounds. The NDP pension event is Wednesday. The News apologizes for the error. 14-13
