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Business & Economy

AGRICULTURE
'Connections is a main focus': Producers gather in Medicine Hat for agriculture conference
Hundreds of beef and crop producers heard from speakers, checked out vendors and networked at an agriculture-themed conference Wednesday in Medicine Hat.Cypress County's annual Ag Connections Conference, now in its second year, is about building bridges, organizer Beth Cash said. "Connections is a main focus for u...
6h ago
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ECONOMY
Canada's inflation rate ticks back up to two per cent in October, StatCan says
Canada's inflation rate rose to two per cent last month, up from 1.6 per cent in September, as gasoline prices exerted less downward pressure on annual price growth. The report from Statistics Canada on Tuesday says prices in October increased at a faster annual pace in five out of the eight major components of the con...
Nov 19, 2024
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BUSINESS
'Where's the beef?': Wendy's across western Canada to be supplied by Brooks' own JBS
JBS Foods Canada invested $90 million into its meat processing plant located in Brooks, Alta., in July of this year.The Alberta government has since provided a $10.7 million tax credit towards the expansion of the new processing line at the plant.---All of this expansion wasn't for nothing, as the plant in Brooks is no...
Nov 18, 2024
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LABOUR
Medicine Hat postal workers say they aren't being heard
An official with Medicine Hat's local Canadian Union of Postal Workers division said Friday that employees of the national Crown corporation aren't being heard as labour disruptions began. "We've come to them with some service expansion ideas, and we're getting nowhere," said Karen Hellawell, president of Loc...
Nov 15, 2024
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Business & Economy

FACT CHECK
Tim Hortons on 13th Avenue SE is not closing, official says
A Tim Hortons location in Medicine Hat's south end is not closing. Rumours grew online that the 13th Avenue Southeast establishment was permanently shutting its doors. An official with EIWM Holdings confirmed to CHAT News on Wednesday that it will remain open.
Nov 13, 2024
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ONE ON ONE
Noon Interview: Jace Anderson - Nov. 12
Jace Anderson, executive director of Tourism Medicine Hat, joined anchor Dan Reynish on CHAT News at Noon on Tuesday.
Nov 12, 2024
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BUSINESS
Medicine Hat Lodge continues operations amid financial difficulties
A receivership order for the Medicine Hat Lodge has come into effect as of Oct. 24 of this year but the establishment has continued operating. Ernst & Young Inc. has been designated as the receiver of the current and future assets of the property.Mayfield Investments Ltd., owner of the Lodge, was not able to fulfil...
Nov 07, 2024
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ENERGY
Medicine Hat ratepayer's group requests 'intervenor status' in city's solar farm buy
The Medicine Hat Utilities Ratepayer Association has applied to receive formal "intervenor status" in the city's application to purchase the rights to a solar field project, with the group calling for transparency and public consultation.If the utility ratepayer advocacy group, known as MHURA, is approved as ...
Nov 07, 2024
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BUSINESS
Redcliff firm receives $4.3M from federal investment in aerospace and aviation
A Redcliff aerospace firm will receive $2.6 million from the federal government to develop, demonstrate and commercialize an electric UAV that it has already started building.It's the largest portion of a $4.3-million investment into Alberta's aerospace and aviation industry revealed Monday by Calgary-area MP George Ch...
Nov 04, 2024
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ENERGY
Pathways seeking bids for part of its proposed carbon capture network: Imperial
The Pathways Alliance group of oilsands companies has issued a request for proposals to pipe manufacturers for the massive carbon capture and storage network it wants to build in northern Alberta.The CEO of Imperial Oil Ltd., one of the six oilsands majors behind the proposed $16.5-billion project, provided the update ...
Nov 01, 2024
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ENERGY
Medicine Hat gas rate lower than a year ago, electricity holds steady
The cost of natural gas in Medicine Hat is 40 per cent lower than a year ago and residential electricity continues to bounce off the lowest allowed price in the city's November utility rates released Friday.The default rate for natural gas, as is tradition, has jumped amid colder weather to $1.864 per gigajoule, up fro...
Nov 01, 2024
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IN THE COMMUNITY
Culinary festival promoting locally-sourced food expands beyond Medicine Hat
An annual festival to encourage sourcing food locally has expanded beyond the borders of Medicine Hat to include participants from across southern Alberta for its 11th year. -Savour the Southeast aims to celebrate local restaurants, cafes, breweries, products and producers that will each offer at least one locally-sour...
Nov 01, 2024
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BUSINESS
Looming Canada Post labour disruption could impact Medicine Hat businesses
A looming labour disruption for Canada Post could have an impact on Medicine Hat businesses - at least for those that still use the service.Canada Post and its union have been negotiating a new contract since November 2023 and, without some agreement at the bargaining table, job action could launch as early as Sunday.T...
Oct 31, 2024
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ENERGY
Medicine Hat director says solar project is a 'no regret' strategic investment
Medicine Hat's managing director of energy, land and environment Rochelle Pancoast says the Saamis Solar project is an example of a "no regret" strategic investment the city can build at a reasonable pace if it acquires the rights to purchase it.Pancoast during a council budget meeting Wednesday reiterated th...
Oct 31, 2024
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energy
Helium company launches new project near Medicine Hat
A U.S.-based company focused on exploring, developing and producing untapped energy assets says it has successfully launched a new helium project near Medicine Hat. Weil Group Resources revealed this week it has kicked off its new modular helium purification facility, an innovation the group said represents the latest ...
Oct 30, 2024
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ECONOMY
Medicine Hat College instructor expects more rate cuts by Bank of Canada
A Medicine Hat College business instructor says the Bank of Canada's Wednesday rate cut is due to a weaker economy.-The Bank of Canada made an interest rate cut of a half a percentage point to bring it's rate to 3.75 per cent.This is the fourth cut to it's key lending rate since June, with the previous cuts being a qua...
Oct 24, 2024
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Medicine Hat's Women in Business Expo happening Saturday
The third annual Women in Business Expo, a market event that aims to highlight Medicine Hat's women-led businesses, will feature over 60 vendors across a diverse set of genres, organizers say. Real estate, financial services, homegrown goods, medical services, fashion, interior design, skincare, trades and other catego...
Oct 24, 2024
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Banks lower prime rates to 5.95% after Bank of Canada move
Canadian financial institutions say they are lowering their prime lending rates to match the decrease announced by the Bank of Canada. The central bank lowered its key interest rate by half a percentage point Wednesday to 3.75 per cent. All of the Big Six banks including RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC and National Bank...
Oct 23, 2024
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WestJet changes course on new Medicine Hat flight times after feedback
WestJet revealed Tuesday it will change its daily Medicine Hat-Calgary arrival and departure times once again after feedback from business, political and community leaders.The WestJet Encore flight will depart Medicine Hat Regional Airport at 7:30 a.m. and touch down at Calgary International Airport at 8:16 a.m.Later i...
Oct 23, 2024
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THINGS TO KNOW
Three topics covered at Medicine Hat leadership breakfast
Mayors, reeves and a base commander gave introductory speeches and answered questions from an audience of Medicine Hat and area business leaders early on Tuesday morning. They were speaking at the 2024 Leadership Breakfast put on by the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce at Chinook Village.Premier Danielle Smith, Cy...
Oct 22, 2024
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WestJet changes course on new Medicine Hat flight times after feedback
WestJet revealed Tuesday it will change its daily Medicine Hat-Calgary arrival and departure times once again after feedback from business, political and community leaders.The WestJet Encore flight will depart Medicine Hat Regional Airport at 7:30 a.m. and touch down at Calgary International Airport at 8:16 a.m.Later i...
Oct 22, 2024
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City of Medicine Hat sells land to Hut 8 Mining Corp. for $600K
Medicine Hat city council has approved the sale of two plots of land to cryptocurrency firm Hut 8 Mining Corp. for a total of $600,000.Hut 8 has been leasing the land from the city since it was launched in 2018, starting with one 10.96-acre site.At the time, typical off‐site levies were deferred with the development ...
Oct 11, 2024
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Fill seats to increase WestJet frequency to Medicine Hat, airport chief says
Medicine Hat's airport manager says people need to fill up the flights out of Medicine Hat Regional Airport so WestJet's service can expand from one daily departure and arrival. "We do need to put those bums in seats," Logan Boyd, the manager, said Wednesday after WestJet held a roundtable with members of the...
Oct 03, 2024
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TC Energy says sale of minority stake in pipeline to Indigenous groups is delayed
A deal that was billed as Canada's largest-ever Indigenous equity ownership agreement has hit a snag. TC Energy Corp. said Tuesday the $1-billion agreement, announced in July, that would see it sell a minority stake in its Western Canadian natural gas transmission network to a consortium of Indigenous communities has b...
Sep 10, 2024
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Methanex buying OCI Global's international methanol business in US$2.05B deal
Methanex Corp. has signed a deal to buy OCI Global's international methanol business in an agreement valued at US$2.05 billion, including assumed debt.The deal includes OCI's interest in two methanol facilities in Beaumont, Texas, one of which also produces ammonia. It also includes a low-carbon methanol production and...
Sep 09, 2024
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Medicine Hat faces uphill battle in clean energy transition but 'sky is not falling', director says
Medicine Hat's gas and electricity revenues are headed towards a decade-long decline but the city's energy director insisted Thursday the "sky is not falling" as there's room to prepare for a looming transition away from non-renewables.In a presentation of the city's business strategy in the face of a nationa...
Sep 06, 2024
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Circle K owner 'confident' it can close on bid for 7-Eleven owner
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.'s incoming CEO says the company is convinced it can close on a blockbuster bid to take over 7-Eleven-owner Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. Alex Miller, who is set to replace outgoing CEO Brian Hannasch on Friday, said he is confident in the company's ability to finance and complete the pro...
Sep 05, 2024
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Medicine Hat city council delays approval of new off-site levy
Medicine Hat city council has pushed back approving a new off-site levy policy until December to give time for broader community consultation after overwhelming pressure from business leaders during a council meeting Tuesday evening. Executives of the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce cited delays in consultations,...
Sep 04, 2024
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