Photo Credit: Kevin Kyle

By Regan Tate

Business community gets opportunity to discuss issues with members of city council

Oct 18, 2023 | 2:22 PM

Medicine Hat, AB–The business community had a chance to ask questions and raise concerns with Medicine Hat’s Mayor and some members of city council during a town hall meeting Tuesday evening at the Esplanade.

Mayor Linnsie Clark told the crowd Medicine Hat is currently dealing with a lot of complex issues. “Housing is an issue, it’s hard to even have a business if you can’t have a place for your workers to live. Labour is an issue, so is the cost of labour, and actually having labour exist”, stated Clark.

Business owners raised concerns about the number of vacant and run down commercial spaces in the city. Councillors in attendance agreed more needs to be done but not all believe punishing the landlords will solve the problem. “We do need to have a stronger arm as far as derelict buildings, you know ticket after ticket after ticket they are not going to pay, so there has to be a different approach,” stated Coun. Cassie Hider.

Mental health issues, drugs, and homelessness particularly in the downtown area are also big concerns for small business owners. Coun. Ramona Robbins said customers choosing to stay away from downtown businesses for a variety of reasons including the preception of a lack of safety is having a negative impact on the business community. Robbins stated she frequents the downtown area often with her children. “I really wish that more people would understand that you go downtown and there’s so many places you can eat, and shop, and visit, and lounge and I just wish people would look at the positives.”

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Council has taken a lot of heat in recent months as residents voiced their frustrations over utility rates. The business owners in attendance were happy to have a chance to talk to council and hear their thoughts on some of the bigger issues. “I think the council we have right now are very concerned about transparency and good communication with the city population, they emphasized that today and they seemed to welcome the feedback from the residents of our city and that’s a good sign, stated one business owner following the meeting.

Another business owner told chatnewstoday he hopes city council keeps the lines of communications open by holding more frequent discussions with the business community.