Mayor Linnsie Clark says affordability remains a major issue in Medicine Hat. (Kevin Kyle/CHAT News)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

UPDATED

Housing crisis the biggest issue facing Medicine Hat in 2024, mayor says in ‘state of the city’ address

Jan 23, 2024 | 1:46 PM

Mayor Linnsie Clark pointed to housing as the biggest challenge facing Medicine Hat this year in her “state of the city” address, saying the city is working on bylaw changes, pre-approved building plans and other initiatives to address the issue.

Affordability, supply and the increased prevalence of mental health and addiction in communities are the among the chief reasons housing is a critical problem, Clark said in her Tuesday speech.

“These problems have compounded to create an unprecedented challenge, which some have compared to a game of musical chairs,” she told a ballroom of business owners, politicians and community leaders at the Medicine Hat Lodge.

“If there’s not enough chairs, someone is going to go without a chair, and only the strongest and fastest will end up with a seat,” she said

The city’s already started working on solutions.

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It has applied to the federal $4-billion Housing Accelorator Fund and expects to hear a result in 2024.

A big part of the city’s approach is to remove barriers to getting housing up quick, Clark said.

The city is working on a new land use bylaw that will include new districts to ensure a variety of housing options in as many areas of Medicine Hat as possible.

“The current bylaw is limited to only a few types which will make it difficult to provide critical housing options like bathroom suites, secondary suites, attached housing and townhouses,” she said.

Those types of options are known as “the missing middle” that the city hopes to address, Clark said.

A video that featured Medicine Hat land use staff highlighted a proposal to create pre-approved building plans that will allow projects to go up that already fit city regulations.

The proposed ideas still need council approval before coming into play.

Clark also warned of a time where the city’s publicly-owned power profits could dip by the end of the decade and pointed to the need for an energy transition.

“One of the top priorities of council is to carefully energy transition as we face the reality of a changing energy market,” Clark said.

One of the options the city is looking into is boosting its role in the carbon capture industry, investing millions in the city’s future.

Clark in her speech Tuesday also addressed the issues that faced the city in 2023, including skyrocketing utility rates.

She maintained that Medicine Hat is a great place to live.

“Medicine Hat remains an excellent place to live and do business,” she said.