Politician’s Platform
October 10, 2011
Mayor Norm Boucher

Greetings Hatters!

Soon the unseasonably warm fall will be forgotten and snow will fall. City Council is thrilled that our city will once again be alive with festive lights this year reflecting that snow. I understand resident’s concern with regard to the cost but many issues were taken into account including the price tag for the initial investment and installation. However these displays are expected to last over 10 years. Now we invite businesses and industry to become involved in decorating the city as well. A few festive lights reminds us that giving is much more important than receiving and how truly blessed we are in our city.

City Council strongly believes in giving back to the community and to those in need by supporting worthy causes including Medicine Hat and District Food as well as CORE Association, St. Vincent de Paul, Medicine Hat Family Services, HALO and many other social programs. These agencies also serve residents outside of Medicine Hat. Plenty of our investments, charitable donations and infrastructure upgrades come from money other than taxes.  Those of us living in Canada sometimes take for granted how fortunate we are to have access to almost everything. Other countries are not so lucky and their social systems are negligible if non-existent.  To be able to help feed hundreds of people in famine is something that City Council felt was important not only to us but to the residents we are elected to serve.

Having said that, we understand the need for a creation of a policy that will allow City Council to make these donations on behalf of the City of Medicine Hat and its residents but do it according to guidelines that have been set up with the suggestions and recommendations of committees and advisory boards speaking on behalf of residents and prior to the adoption of the policy. We are a city that cares.

 I am proud to live in a democracy where we can discuss all issues big or small. The democratic process is important and I challenge everyone to share their thoughts with me or other members of Council. We may not always agree but being able to voice suggestions and recommendations to your elected officials is what the democratic process is all about and what makes Canada one of the best places in the world to live.

We have noticed in Medicine Hat that many of our RFP and tenders have come back with amounts quoted the same as what they were at the height of the economic boom in 2006 and 2007. City Council and Senior Administration has taken this as a sign that things are getting better.  For that reason the City has decided to postpone some projects until 2012 prior to peak construction season so they will hopefully come in at a lower price

For now the City of Medicine continues to make money with its energy business and Council is keeping a continuous eye on the energy sector. We have evaluated several gas-well properties for purchase in recent months but many of them are at or near the end of their life expectancy and the cost to abandon the wells are exorbitant. We currently have enough gas to sustain us but we will continue to evaluate offers as they arise.

Gas prices in our opinion will likely not increase much in the next few months but is expected that the cost of electricity will rise as two coal plants in the province have recently closed. Energy is a complicated business because the only constant in that industry is change. Change in prices, changes in regulations and changes in needs require keeping a consistent pulse on the industry.

City Council must continue to have close relationships to our provincial counterparts.  A joint association with Alison Redford and her cabinet ministers is essentials to maintaining the requirements set out in the Municipal Government Act between us and is essential to ensure we are not labeled as the forgotten corner of province. For everyone who was asking, there is still no Federal money for the Event Centre or opening of the Wild Horse Border on a 24 hr. basis.

On behalf of the City of Medicine Hat organization I’d like to take this opportunity to wish Mr. Stelmach all the best in his future endeavors and at the same time welcome Alison Redford. City Council looks forward to our relationship with the new Premier.

I am looking forward to meeting many of you in the near future.

Mayor Norm Boucher