By Eli J. Ridder

Questions remain for some as Medicine Hat awaits judge’s judicial review ruling

Aug 20, 2024 | 7:33 AM

It was a week ago when Medicine Hat went to court to defend the validity of power-limiting sanctions its council placed on Mayor Linnsie Clark and — despite learning more from the judicial hearing, an interview with Clark and several councillors speaking out — many residents are left with questions still.

“There seems to be bad stuff happening in the background,” resident Lee Robins told CHAT News in a recent interview.

“There’s more we don’t know.”

Others, like Breagh MacLean, want a reset.

“They all need to go,” MacLean, who has lived in Medicine Hat for 27 years, said.

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

“Worst mayor and council in council in history,” she added, saying, “it’s more than just the mayor in the wrong.”

“We need to take back our city.”

Hatters on social media have posted in favour of council and the sanctions placed on Clark. Others have continued in their steadfast support for the mayor.

File Photo/CHAT News

But many are still wondering if they have all the details to make an informed decision, with some undecided as they try to sort out a barrage of information.

Political consultant Jim Groom said both the mayor and council should have stayed away from speaking out publicly during the judicial review process.

“Remaining quiet on both sides absolutely would have been the best approach,” he told CHAT News in a recent interview.

“It would have been done in a little bit more professional manner.”

Clark released unredacted versions of the files she sent to the Kingsgate Legal investigator soon after council imposed sanctions on her.

Council for months remained quiet on how it arrived on the sanctions it imposed on her because the decision was made in closed session meetings under the Municipal Government Act.

Councillors called for unity and insisted they were able to work with Clark despite the restrictions and looming judicial review.

However, last week three councillors revealed they tried several mediation attempts with the mayor — one included the municipal affairs minister, his office confirmed — and gave a broader picture of what was happening behind the scenes.

Groom, who has spoken consistently against the sanctions, hasn’t changed his mind based on the last seven days after the judicial review hearing arguments and councillors speaking out.

“It still appears that the discipline that was issued to the mayor seems really severe, even if all of the things that have been said are true,” Groom said.

“The complaint was limited to the actual meeting and the 10 minutes that transpired at the meeting,” he added in reference to the tense exchange between Clark and Mitchell.

“And that’s really difficult to put in a year or more of issues and actually resolve that in your mind as to who was right and who was wrong because there’s so many nuances to it that it gets quite convoluted.”

Jared Bosch, who owns a small business downtown, said city hall’s ongoing leadership crisis has distracted council from what it was elected to do.

“Everybody just feels so frustrated that nothing’s getting done,” Bosch said, adding he is considering running for office.

For now, Medicine Hat waits.

A ruling from Justice Rosemary Nation in Clark v. the City of Medicine Hat is expected by the end of September.

Coun. Shila Sharps will be interviewed by anchor Dan Reynish on CHAT News at Noon on Tuesday.