An online survey will also be available for residents in May. (Tero Vesalainen/Dreamstime)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

Medicine Hat to kick off community polling in May to help inform city hall decision-making

Apr 30, 2024 | 10:37 AM

Several hundred Medicine Hat residents in May will receive a call asking them what they think is the most important issue facing the community, what their level of satisfaction is with garbage services and several other survey questions.

It’s part of a community survey the city has hired polling firm Ipsos to carry out, the city said in a statement Tuesday.

The polling will target those over 18 years old and run from May 6 to May 26, with an overall sample size of 400.

Staff say it will help provide city council and administration reliable data to better understand community sentiment around a variety of city topics that will inform decision-making.

Colleen Graham, the city’s director of communications, said feedback from residents is important as it will help city hall understand what’s working and what can be improved, and hopes they take the time to give their take.

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“We recognize that people are busy, but we’re hopeful that if they receive a call from Ipsos, they will take the time to respond,” Graham said in a statement Tuesday.

“This is a key opportunity to share your thoughts in a meaningful way,” she added.

The city conducted the same survey in 2022. That will allow for a comparison between the two sets of results.

The feedback that is captured through the survey is considered representative of the population as it utilizes a scientific methodology, staff said.

IPSOS will use a randomized telephone survey, with 65 per cent cellphones and 35 per cent landlines. The results are considered accurate to within ±4.9%, 19 times out of 20.

If residents don’t receive a call from Ipsos but would like to take the survey, an online option will be available on MedicineHat.ca starting on May 8.

Only one telephone interview will be permitted per household, but others are welcome to complete the online version.

Ipsos will report the results to the city during the summer and they will be shared with the community at that time, staff said.