Kym Porter spoke on CHAT News at Noon on Friday about a Medicine Hat Drug Coalition event taking place Saturday. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

Mayor supporter happily surprised by judge’s ruling, open to Medicine Hat city hall review

Aug 30, 2024 | 3:07 PM

A Medicine Hat resident who regularly speaks out in support for Mayor Linnsie Clark says she was surprised but happy when a Calgary justice restored Clark’s powers and salary this week.

“I wasn’t surprised in that I thought the sanctions were ridiculous and that they should have should have been revoked, but I actually was somewhat surprised that that’s what happened,” Kym Porter told CHAT News on Friday.

“I really didn’t have a sense of which way it was going to go, although I had a sense which way it should go.”

Rosemary Nation, a justice of the Court of King’s Bench, decided to strike down four of the six sanctions imposed by council on Clark, calling them “disproportionate and unreasonable.”

Council found Clark failed to treat City Manager Ann Mitchell with “courtesy, dignity and respect” during an exchange with Mitchell at a public council meeting in August 2023 — a finding that Nation described as a “reasonable decision and logical in light of the evidence.”

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Nation upheld council’s sanction requiring Clark to apologize for her treatment of Mitchell, however, her powers and salary being restored are not contingent on her apology, according to the mayor.

Another sanction limiting Clark’s contact with Mitchell and staff at-large was sent back to council by Nation to sort out.

A day after the ruling was released, Coun. Andy McGrogan revealed his intent to propose council ask the Alberta government for a municipal inspection, an idea that Clark and other members of council say they are open to considering.

“That can never hurt,” Porter said of the provincial review proposal.

“I’m curious as to the timing of it, and the fact that it could take 18 months. They wouldn’t even get the results before the next election,” she added.

A municipal inspection in Alberta is an investigation ordered by the municipal affairs minister that may look at any issues or concerns within the municipality to ensure council and administration are acting appropriately and in accordance with provincial legislation, according to the Municipal Government Act.

An inspection may be ordered in response to a request by a city council, a petition from residents or serious issues brought to the minister’s attention, according to an overview from the province.

The entire process can take between six and 18 months. The inspector may review the municipality’s council meetings, bylaws, finances, and other documents. In addition, the inspector may interview anyone they feel is necessary.

McGrogan said the provincial review could address underlying generational system issues at city hall that may have underpinned procedural problems Mayor Clark often tries to raise at council.

“Ann Mitchell did some things that didn’t follow the bylaws and that’s where this all started…if that had been dealt with appropriately, I don’t think we would be in this situation,” Porter said.

Porter agreed with McGrogan that an inspection that leads to an overhaul of any systemic issues that plague city hall could help avoid conflict.

“If that structure can be in place for future generations…that’s only going to help us not come up to these issues again.”

Next week, council will hold its first public meeting since the ruling came out.

Porter, who started a petition to get council to reverse its sanctions and encouraged residents to show up in support of the mayor for several meetings in the spring, is hoping people show up for the mayor.

“I will be there and I hope that the city stays interested and shows up,” Porter said.

“This isn’t over, unfortunately; I wish it was. But we need more people to come out and to learn what’s going on within our city council meetings.”

— with files from Dan Reynish