Clugston, City looking at silver linings after 2019 economic struggles

“I had hoped that we would have been pulling out of this downturn by now, especially back even in 2017,” said Clugston.

A number of economic challenges were presented to the City in 2019 including the decision to shutter 2,000 natural gas wells due to a lack of profitability in the industry and construction slowing on the Aurora Cannabis greenhouse facility program.

With that said, Clugston doesn’t believe it to be doom and gloom from the City’s perspective.

“I think we’re ahead of most other cities in the province of Alberta, Lethbridge is doing okay with the agriculture,” said Clugston. “But, we’ve had some wins.”

He cited a number of growing industries and initiatives in Medicine Hat, including the City taking over and re-launching the Invest Medicine Hat program and continued success with the Hut 8 cryptocurrency operation.

All points that the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce and its president Tracy Noullett agree with.

“We can’t discount the good news we’ve actually heard, sometimes we forget that very quickly,” said Noullett. “But, we’ve had some great news, we’ve had some great businesses look at Medicine Hat and want to come into our community. I think that will demonstrate others will follow.”

While there wasn’t a landmark announcement like last year’s introduction of Folium Biosciences to Medicine Hat, there were a handful of smaller updates from the city portfolio.

The latest of those involves Enclave Ventures Inc. who say they’ve pre-sold more than half of their Phase I lots in their new Coulee Ridge neighbourhood development.

Enclave Ventures will also be providing virtual reality technology for Medicine Hat’s annual ‘Parade of Homes.’

“We’re trying to use technology as a way to create new buyers that are not currently contemplating buying, but would buy if you were able to provide them with the product that they were looking for,” said Enclave Ventures CEO Don Sandford.

The VR model is expected to lower costs on constructing show homes and will allow multiple wearers to view a particular home at one time.

The local housing market has slowed to a crawl over the past few years, which has forced the City to look at inventive ways to attract investment.

“People are at their best when things are at their worst and the housing market is sluggish here in Medicine Hat,” said Clugston. “So you have to innovate, you have to be creative, you have to try something new.”

Clugston meanwhile isn’t expecting any major projects to pass over his desk over the coming months, dubbing the next year and a half of his term as an ‘austerity council.’

“The municipality has put their money in, it’s now time for the private sector to put their money in and I think you’re seeing that a little bit,” said Clugston. “But, as this city’s municipal council goes, we’re in cruise control.”

Moving forward for the remainder of 2020, Clugston said he’s hoping their prudent decision making will open new economic doors for the City of Medicine Hat.

“I’m optimistic, I have to be optimistic,” he said. “I’m the city’s ambassador in some ways and I have to sell the city.”

by Scott Roblin

Clugston, City looking at silver linings after 2019 economic struggles

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