Council signed off on proposed terms of reference for the task force at Monday's public meeting. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat’s one-off community task force receives council support

Feb 3, 2025 | 8:37 PM

The City of Medicine Hat will begin to assemble a one-off collaborative “task force” charged with addressing homelessness, enhancing safety and bolstering social cohesion as part of its refreshed strategic plan.

All seven councillors present at Monday’s council meeting voted to support a proposed terms of reference for a group charged with producing actional solution within a matter of months.

Council last October narrowed down its list of goals for the term to four objectives it sees as achievable before the fall municipal election.

One of the items called for the city to lead an “urgent response to social disorder” that looped in the Alberta government and Medicine Hat community at-large.

To that end, staff created the terms of reference as a starting spot for a proposed Resilient and Inclusive Community Task Force.

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Now, with council approval — with an added council request that the chair is a member of the community and not a city official — the task force can start coming together.

Monday’s staff report, prepared by community development director Leah Prestayko, says “visible signs of homelessness, addiction, poor mental health, poverty and social isolation can be unsettling and negatively impact a community.”

The document blames “a lack of appropriate services, poor urban design and planning, absence of enforcement, and stigma can exacerbate challenges experienced by a community and its residents and visitors.”

Staff write that “increasing incidents of public disturbances, anti-social behaviour, sleeping in public, indecent acts, and visible illegal drug use, have raised concerns among local community members.”

Recently, residents of the Flats neighbourhood have raised concerns about the behaviour of those using The Mustard Seed — a non-profit that operates an overnight shelter and day services across two locations.

The impact of those who use the organization’s services on the residential areas where The Seed operates has worsened in the last six months, according to several residents who have complained.

Tensions reached a peak when dozens of Hatters — enraged by the organization’s plan to add overnight services at its Allowance Avenue location after an Alberta government request — made emotional pleas for change at a January town hall amid a situation they see as spiralling out of control.

Action within months

The proposed city-led task force is charged with five objectives.

It must come up with plans and actions within six months “to reduce the impacts of homelessness, mental health, addiction and poverty, balancing individual and community needs.”

The actions should rely on “data, best practice, and engagement”, write staff, including “a willingness to be innovative in creating made-in-Medicine Hat solutions.”

The efforts should be coordinated among various stakeholders, including governments, non-profits and community groups, according to the staff report.

A fourth goal requires the task force to keep tabs on how well the implemented strategies are going.

The group is asked to also “engage with the community to raise awareness and foster cooperation.”

The roundtable, should it launch after council approval, would meet biweekly with the option to schedule additional meetings. Decisions will be made by consensus or, if required, majority vote, according to the proposal.

The task force has deadlines.

It is required to submit monthly progress reports to city council for awareness and communication to the broader community.

The group will be asked to submit an annual report to summarize activities, achievements and recommendations.

Along with political and community leaders, two spots on the task force are reservef for members of the public.

Other members will include Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA and premier Danielle Smith; Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright, who has played a key role in The Mustard Seed relocation effort; Mayor Linnsie Clark, along with another councillor and an executive staff member; and local MP Glen Motz.

The Medicine Hat Police Service, Alberta Health Services, local chamber of commerce, Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, Miywasin Friendship Centre and The Mustard Seed will also have seats at the task force table.

The roundtable, once it gets going, will meet biweekly with the option to schedule additional meetings. Decisions will be made by consensus or, if required, majority vote.

The strategic goals shortlist that included the creation of the community task force received unanimous support from council when it was passed last fall.

It wasn’t immediately clear on Monday when the task force will first meet.