Alberta’s municipal audit of Medicine Hat formally begins, city says

Medicine Hat voted to request the audit from the Alberta government in September, after council had a fierce debate over the merits, cost and impact of such an unrestricted audit.

Alberta’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs started with a scoping exercise that included meetings between provincial staff and each member of city council and executive administration.

Following the preliminary work, the ministry determined an inspection was necessary to assist the current council and administration in improving governance and processes.

The audit could take six to 18 months, but officials hope it can be completed before the next election takes place in October 2025.

The final report is presented to council and residents in an open meeting — and the minister has authority to order necessary action to remedy any issues found through the inspection.

Jim Groom, a Medicine Hat-based political consultant, said the audit will benefit the city’s residents but its result may not be definitive.

“The citizens of Medicine Hat will be well-served by it being done,” Groom told CHAT News on Thursday.

“However, I don’t think it’s going to come out with a resolution that we’re going to all sit back and say, ‘well, now we know who did what, when, and whether the mayor was wrong, or the council was wrong.’ Nothing’s going to be that definitive,” he added.

“We thought the court case was going to be definitive, and then when it was done, it was still somewhat up in the air as to, well, the mayor was sort of guilty, but the punishment wasn’t suitable. I imagine the audit is going to be very much the same.”

by Eli J. Ridder

Alberta’s municipal audit of Medicine Hat formally begins, city says

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