Courtesy: Youtube

By Darren Rathwell

Invest Medicine Hat staff defend bid for agency

Oct 26, 2021 | 5:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Staff at Invest Medicine Hat are defending their bid earlier this year to take over the agency, which was made during a controversial privatization process initiated by the city.

Earlier this month, an independent review found no wrongdoing by City Hall when it tried to tender out the agency to the private sector.

The only bidder on the contract was a company consisting of three Invest Medicine Hat staffers.

But agency spokesperson Kelli Ireland says any change of hands was a matter for city council to decide.

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

12h ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

12h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

21h ago

“We are doing the work currently. We should have the opportunity to apply to keep our jobs. Y’know, I’m a mom. I’ve got two kids at home I have to feed just like everybody else. And I think I had a right to apply for my job,” Ireland, a marketing specialist with Invest Medicine Hat, told CHAT News.

“And this is a time (city) council could say ‘yeah, great, you guys are doing great.’ Or this is also the opportunity to say ‘no, there’s a better company out there who could do this job better,'” Ireland added.

In August a report by Deloitte LLP determined the City of Medicine Hat followed its current policies during its latest attempt at privatizing Invest Medicine Hat, but the city was criticized by mayor-elect Linnsie Clark as an example of the lack of transparency often shown by the former city council.

Invest Medicine Hat is still under the city’s umbrella, and Ireland says their work in general remains under the control of the city. CHAT News asked her if the agency’s staff has concerns with the new leadership at City Hall.

“Any new business, any new transaction has to be approved (by city council) and so I think that if we can continue to have, y’know, open honest conversations with any council no matter who is in the chair they’ll see the hard work that our team does here.”

Meanwhile, Invest Medicine Hat says work continues by the agency on the city’s economic development, including a regional strategy for hydrogen.

“We’re leading that charge to really soften the economic impact that was lost when natural gas and oil (declined) in our province and city.. we have a few deals in place to attract new business to a new industry to the city that I can’t quite talk about yet but we’re very excited about,” Ireland said.

However, the new arrangements are still pending city council approval, Ireland added.