A peaceful assembly is planned for 6 p.m. on Sept. 5 at Medicine Hat City Hall just before that night's council meeting. (CHAT News File Photo)

By Chris Brown

Peaceful assembly planned before city council meets on Tuesday

Sep 1, 2023 | 3:51 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A petition started four weeks ago by one Medicine Hatter calling for city council to do something about a range of issues became a flashpoint for the community.

Residents were and continue to grapple with high utility bills due to skyrocketing electricity rates. Social media pages were filled with posts by people struggling to afford their bills and other basic necessities.

Nicole Frey’s petition has over 2,600 signatures now. She says she’s proud of how the community responded.

“It was nice to see that it seemed to open the door for conversation and action,” she said Friday.

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About 400 people came to a citizen-organized meeting this week to demand answers from council.

VIDEO: Livestream of the citizen utility meeting

That was a day after council, at a special meeting directed city staff to bring options for immediate community utility and other cost pressure relief at the regular Sept. 5 meeting.

READ MORE: City releases September utility rates

Frey says that since she started the petition she’s heard countless stories from people who are forced to choose between buying groceries or paying their utility bills. Or worse, are worried they’re going to become homeless because of the impact of utility bills on already stretched budgets.

She’s helping organize a peaceful, family-friendly protest before the Tuesday meeting at 6 p.m. in front of city hall.

After that, she’s going inside to watch the council meeting.

“I hope to hear trustworthy and honest information about what is actually happening with utilities – how much it costs to deliver, how much profit they’re making, where they plan or where they wanted to put that profit – so that decisions can start to be made holistically,” she says.

“I’m hoping for transparency, really. Like, do your jobs. That’s what I’m hoping for. I hope they come to the meeting and advocate for us, and not hide behind the message of ‘we don’t have enough power, we can’t do anything.”

Frey says she hopes this week and next will be a turning point for everyone toward building a better Medicine Hat.