Catherine MacKenzie says she's organized a protest against the sanctions placed on Mayor Linnsie Clark. (Ross Lavinge/CHAT News)

By Adrian St.Onge, Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat resident organizes rally outside city hall in support of Mayor Linnsie Clark

Mar 25, 2024 | 4:17 PM

A Medicine Hat resident is planning a rally outside city hall Monday night calling on the sanctions against Mayor Linnsie Clark to be rescinded and demanding more transparency at city hall.

READ MORE: Dozens of residents applaud Mayor Clark as she enters the council chambers

Catherine MacKenzie organized the protest after councillors offered little in response to her email voicing concerns over their move to strip Clark of nearly all her mayoral powers and cut her salary in half.

Council voted unanimously to sanction the mayor last week, removing her appointment to the powerful administration committee, taking away her role as city spokesperson and eliminating her ability to chair council meetings, among other rules.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat Curling Centre officially reopens after two-year wait

Oct 05, 2024

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on in Medicine Hat and area this weekend: Oct. 4-6

Oct 04, 2024

LIVE UPDATES

Road construction, detours and traffic in Medicine Hat

Oct 04, 2024

“I really don’t think the punishment fits the crime,” MacKenzie told CHAT News.

“I don”t even know if there was any crime as a matter of fact, but if they wanted to argue that there was….the punishment didn’t fit, it’s ridiculous, they threw the book at her.”

The protest — titled “Speak Up Medicine Hat” — gets underway at 6:30 p.m. outside city hall downtown Medicine Hat. As of Monday afternoon, 63 people said they were going or interested on the Facebook event page.

“Council needs to know that people have been watching and people are upset,” MacKenzie said.

“People are saying this is inappropriate.”

Medicine Hat residents and political watchers have been divided on if the sanctions on Mayor Clark were appropriate, ranging from those who hail it as standing up for city employees and others that said it’s an embarrassing situation.

‘She just blocked me’

Pressure is building on council, who made the decision to remove Clark’s powers in a short, seven-minute public meeting last Thursday and has released one brief statement since.

MacKenzie is among the many residents that have emailed council concerned over decisions made without giving much explanation to the public.

When she emailed the entirety of city council on Friday, a day after Clark’s powers were stripped, she was instantly blocked by Coun. Ramona Robins, according to an automatic reply seen by CHAT News.

“She just blocked me,” MacKenzie said.

Coun. Allison Knodel, the current deputy mayor, responded to MacKenzie on Sunday, acknowledging there could be perceptions of “skepticism and disapproval” but that the decisions were made with “careful consideration.”