Medicine Hat council approves four year plan and housing support, while Water Not Coal motion fails

The redesignation transfers the reserve designation to another parcel without changing the city’s total amount of reserve land.

No written submissions were received ahead of the public hearing, and no members of the gallery spoke before the council unanimously approved second and third readings of the bylaw.

Later in the meeting, Councillor Bill Cocks introduced a motion on the Water Not Coal Petition, which called on the city to reaffirm its commitment to protecting clean water and Alberta’s watersheds.

The motion would have directed Mayor Linnsie Clark to write to Premier Danielle Smith, the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and other provincial and federal officials expressing council’s concern over any coal-related activity that could jeopardize watershed protection and drinking water security.

The motion cited concerns over water quality, runoff, land disturbance, tailings and cumulative impacts on downstream users and Alberta’s agricultural economy.

The proposal followed Elections Alberta’s announcement last week that the provincewide Water Not Coal citizen initiative petition, led by Alberta musician Corb Lund, had fallen short of the number of verified signatures required to force government action or a provincial referendum on coal mining in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

Cocks’ motion did not receive a seconder, preventing debate or a vote by the council.

Asked after the meeting why no councillor seconded the motion, Clark said she believes there may have been confusion surrounding the unsuccessful provincial petition.

“I think most [of the] council would agree, the watershed is extremely important as well as clean drinking water,” Clark said.

“Perhaps there was some confusion around the petition that was rejected. So we’ll have a lot of opportunities to talk about watershed and clean water in the future.”

Councillor Stuart Young added by saying the council remains committed to protecting the city’s water supply.

“We have a water strategy, and we brought it up. It’s a 25-year water strategy, there’s not a councillor here who isn’t concerned about water,” Young said.

“All of our councillors care deeply about water [and] stand up for water.”

Council later unanimously approved its 2027-2030 Strategic Plan, which establishes four priorities to guide council and administration over the next four years: fiscal responsibility, economic growth through asset expansion, organizational effectiveness, and reliable services and a strong community connection.

Clark said the plan reflects the council’s shared vision for the community and is intended to provide a framework for future budgets, business planning and decision-making.

The strategic plan will be supported by key performance indicators and a public performance scorecard, allowing residents to measure the city’s progress toward its goals.

Administration said the plan will guide business planning and budget development over the next four years and will be reviewed periodically as community needs and priorities evolve.

The council also approved a request to support an affordable housing project proposed by the Miywasin Friendship Centre.

The city will provide the property, 301 Spencer Street S.E., to Miywasin at a reduced non-profit sale price and transfer $412,000 from capital reserves to the Land and Real Estate department to account for the difference between the sale price and the property’s market value.

Administration said the land donation will support the development of the Miywasin Seniors Housing Project, which is intended to provide affordable housing for seniors in the community.

The request was brought forward through the city’s Energy, Land and Environment Committee.

by Jett Schwaier

Medicine Hat council approves four year plan and housing support, while Water Not Coal motion fails

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