The city has put together a Task Force to tackle the issue of social disorder in the downtown core. The group, which will meet every two weeks, includes elected officials from all three government levels, police and health-care professionals, social support groups and two members of the public.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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A ‘Task Force’ including local, provincial and federal government officials, police officers, health-care professionals and representatives from several social support groups will gather around the table in March and attempt to tackle ongoing problems surrounding public safety downtown.
On a four-item top priority list approved by city council last October, members of council are seeking to lead a provincial/municipal/community urgent response to social disorders.
The Task Force will meet every two weeks, beginning March 11, and will provide recommended strategies to reduce impacts of homelessness, mental health, addiction and poverty within a six-month time period.
Membership includes Mayor Linnsie Clark and Coun. Cassi Hider (as head of council’s public services committee), along with a senior staff member, as well as local MLAs Danielle Smith and Justin Wright, and Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz.
Representatives would also come from the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, Mustard Seed, Miywasin Friendship Centre, the Medicine Hat Police Service, Alberta Health Services, Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce and two public members.
City administration says their role throughout the talks will be to act as a mediator and work to bring everyone together to work collaboratively on the issue.
“I think where we’re going with this is we’ve seen that there’s a lot of really good work going on in the city pertaining to this issue,” says Joseph Hutter, managing director of public services. “We want to ensure that we’re being a good, strong partner.”
Hutter says the city will also have the responsibility of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of any strategies developed by the Task Force, and it seeks results by the middle of this summer.
Motz says the members of the Task Force all share the same goal to improve the quality of life for Medicine Hat residents, and calls the committee an “admirable ambition.”
“They talked about developing strategies that can be implemented to boost community capacity to deal with some of the social cohesion, community safety issues and then work together with various agencies or individuals to develop some sort of plan,” Motz said. “I think every person who’s invited has a lot to bring to this, I’m anticipating a good working relationship with everyone.”
Motz says crime in communities has been at the forefront of concerns from stakeholders and residents.
“Specifically about the issues that they’re dealing with, from a crime related perspective, addictions, mental health and the impact it’s having on community safety and on businesses.”
No public details have been released on what will specifically be discussed during the inaugural two-hour meeting at the police station on March 11, however it can be speculated it will be an introductory meeting between all parties. A task force chair person may also be appointed during this meeting.
“Everybody that we invited responded,” says Hutter. “So there does seem to be some excitement and willingness that’s across the board, whether it’s the nonprofits or the elected officials, there has been some excitement and willingness around it.”
