By Lisa Parent

Mayoral recall petition, ‘not an attack on Mayor Clark’

Oct 13, 2023 | 5:07 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Yesterday, the city of Medicine Hat received official notice of a mayoral recall petition in accordance with the municipal government act. The petition was launched by Nicole Frey.

“This is not an attack on Mayor Clark, the reason that we’ve chosen Mayor Clark as our recall petition subject is because she is the only full time council member,” says Medicine Hat resident Frey.

Frey says her initial grievance with city council was born out of high utility rates and lack of a trap neuter release program in Medicine Hat. She says council dysfunction and inaction are the broader issue. This recall petition will coincide with a Ministry of Municipal Affairs petition. That will call on the province to inspect how the municipality operates. It needs 20 percent of the population to sign to go forward.

For the recall petition, Frey needs 40 percent of the population, over the age of eighteen. She says it’s going to be difficult, but worth the fight.

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“I want an opportunity for the community to have a voice and that’s the intent of the recall (petition),” says Frey. “We don’t have any other way to force an election. She could resign and rerun if she wanted to, but she’s made it clear she feels like she’s doing a good job, I guess. The recall petition is going to be the only thing that she’s going to listen to.”

When asked by CHAT News about the petition, the mayor said her current focus is the electric utility bylaw hearing on Monday. She says all she can do is let the recall process unfold.

“As far as dealing with people who aren’t always happy with the way that council is doing business or that I’m doing business, you know, it’s a consideration, but it can’t become the focus,” says Mayor Clark.

Municipal Government Act (MGA), Page 10