Medicine Hat politicians vow to fight against ‘western alienation’

“This time it is worse because [there] doesn’t seem to be a way out anymore,” said Clugston. “The pipelines aren’t getting built. The gas has been suppressed, not because of any policies of the government, but just the price has been suppressed for 10 or 11 years now.”

All three levels of government used their time on Tuesday to speak out against a number of national policies, such as what they see as Quebec and eastern Canada profiting off a struggling Alberta economy through equalization.

Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz was among those banging the drum the hardest, hoping to see the entire equalization system reevaluated in the new sitting of the legislature.

“We need to look at the whole formula, how it’s arrived at to make sure that equalization is flexible and nimble enough to adjust to the changing realities of different economies, said Motz.”

Of course, getting Alberta oil to tidewater was another sticking point for the politicians on hand Tuesday.

News on the Trans-Mountain Pipeline expansion has for the most part stalled since the federal government purchased the pipeline in 2018.

However, a plan by the previous NDP government to move Alberta oil by rail was axed by the current UCP government as they say it meddled with the private sector.

Something that Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo said she still believes.

“Part of the challenges that we face going forward is making sure that we’re getting rid of those contracts into private industry, making sure that they’re taking that on themselves and taking the risk off of the taxpayer,” said Glasgo. “So, I’m glad that you mentioned that because it is important to get our resources to tidewater, but one of those ways is not by the government involved and getting in the way.”

When asked what solutions could be presented, Glasgo pointed towards the new Fair Deal Panel established last week by the provincial government to look at areas to increase independence in Alberta.

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes is a member of that panel and said there are a number of mandates they’re looking at.

“I’m a Canadian, I’m a federalist,” said Barnes. “But, Alberta needs to exert its strength and its independence in terms of within Canada, whether that’s our own pension fund or our own police force.”

The announcement of the panel comes as the Alberta separatist movement, also known as ‘Wexit,’ continues to gain traction locally.

On Sunday, movement leader Peter Downing spoke in front of roughly 100 people as part of Medicine Hat’s first ‘Wexit’ meeting.

In his speech at Chinook Village however, Motz argued it’s in the province’s best interests to remain a part of Canada and work with fellow Canadians.

“Alberta is better off within Confederation and Canada is better off with Alberta in Confederation as well, and I will not accept separation as a solution,” said Motz.

As for Clugston, he was asked the same question and said he’s listening to all sides of the separation debate.

“I think you saw it very strongly from our MP and our MLAs that they believe in Confederation and want to work this out,” he said. “I would say I’m not as strong of a believer, I’ve seen this come and go so many times.”

Set to head back to Ottawa on December 5 for the new sitting of the legislature, Motz said he wants to collaborate with the Liberals’ minority government but is determined to make his sentiments known.

“It’s not something to be taken lightly,” he said. “I think anytime regions of the country feel alienated, there needs to be some efforts made to pay attention to that.”

Acknowledging natural gas

Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clugston speaking at Tuesday’s Leadership Breakfast (Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin)

“It’s time for the citizens of Medicine Hat, myself included, to accept that this industry which has given us our name ‘The Gas City’ is in decline.”

Mayor Ted Clugston addressed the crowd at Chinook Village with that quote in his opening speech, citing the City’s decision in September to abandon over 2,000 natural gas wells over the next three years.

Clugston told those in attendance to come to terms that one of the staples of Medicine Hat’s natural resources likely will be taking a step back for the medium or long-term.

“Usually things turn around in a year or two, supply and demand I thought would fix it,” said Clugston. “So, I think I needed to say to the community, and to myself even and to City Council, that we have to accept this. To just cross your fingers and hope is no longer a solution.”

Low commodity prices that have failed to bounce back are to blame for the City’s decision, with Clugston saying the entire market has shifted over the last decade.

“When I was first elected we had 4,000-some wells, gas was $10 to $12 a gigajoule,” he said. “The profits we were seeing in the utility were mostly from natural gas and they weren’t electricity, who were actually losing money.”

The move to shutter the natural gas wells will cost the City roughly $90 million over the next three years and will result in an unknown number of job cuts to NGPR.

Clugston did say one bright side of the low price of natural gas is helping the bottom line of many local businesses with large operations such as Aurora Cannabis, Hut 8, Cancarb, and Goodyear to name a few.

by Scott Roblin

Medicine Hat politicians vow to fight against ‘western alienation’

Acknowledging natural gas

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