VIDEO: Housing, health care and air service top topics at Medicine Hat town hall

Wright said Medicine Hat has seen a recent increase in housing construction after 10 years of low building activity.

He said the city recorded about 352 new housing units in the past year, its second-highest total in the last decade.

Homelessness and addiction were also raised during the town hall.

Smith said the province is working with the City of Medicine Hat on a potential site for a new shelter and navigation centre.

She also pointed to expanded addiction and recovery services, including recovery communities that will eventually provide hundreds of additional beds.

Health care was another major local issue discussed during the event.

Wright highlighted the return of full maternity services at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, which he said has been underway since April, as well as plans for an urgent care centre.

Air service was another concern, following WestJet’s decision to end scheduled flights from Medicine Hat Regional Airport in June.

Wright said during a media scrum following the hall that six carriers have submitted proposals to restore service.

“It’s options including the Saskatchewan model that right-sized the plane and then guaranteed X amount of seats. And that guarantee would come from the province. But there’s also other models that are currently being studied,” Wright said.

“We’re going to have more information come from that once the debrief on all six of those proposals are done. We’re anticipating something in early spring to early summer, which will then go into effect. Minister Dreeshen and his team are working hard to get this addressed.”

Wright said restoring air service is important to the region’s growing aerospace and defence sector.

“It’s vitally important. As I said in the town hall, you can’t have a healthy aerospace sector without a healthy airport. Those are two things that go hand-in-hand.”

“And while we are growing exponentially in the aerospace [and] aviation defence front, we need this to come online. And it’s really the only thing that’s a bit of a snag holding us back from our true potential.”

One question raised concerns about the Oct. 19 referendum’s voting hours and whether the shorter election-day window could make it more difficult for employees to get the required time off to vote.

Smith said more than 700,000 special ballots have been requested and encouraged employers to make use of advance voting options.

—

(Video Credit: Jett Schwaier/CHAT News)

—

Another question raised during the scrum involved extending a tax-filing deadline.

Smith said she would take the issue to the finance ministry.

“So I’ll take that away to the finance ministry and see if there’s an option to do that,” Smith said.

Infrastructure was also a major focus, including Highway 41 and Highway 3.

Wright said engineering work is underway on 52 kilometres of Highway 41 south of Highway 1, while Budget 2026 includes $152 million for twinning Highway 3 between Medicine Hat and Whitlaw.

The town hall also touched on Medicine Hat’s growing aerospace, aviation and defence sectors, with Wright highlighting local drone manufacturers and investment in the sector.

Smith said Alberta’s rapid population growth has increased pressure on housing, health care, education and other services.

The Oct. 19 referendum questions were also discussed, with Smith outlining her position on the questions and Alberta’s relationship with the federal government.

The town hall was held ahead of the fall legislative session, which Smith said is scheduled to begin at the end of October.

by Jett Schwaier

VIDEO: Housing, health care and air service top topics at Medicine Hat town hall

Our Community