Medicine Hat town hall tackles housing, air service and health care
MLAs Justin Wright and Premier Danielle Smith fielded resident questions on housing supply, airport service and hospital care at a Saturday event in Medicine Hat.
Why it matters
The discussion touches on housing supply, air travel and hospital services directly affecting Medicine Hat residents.
Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright and Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Premier Danielle Smith held a town hall on Saturday addressing resident-submitted questions on housing, health care, air service and infrastructure. On housing, Smith said the province favours increasing supply and subsidies for lower-income Albertans over rent caps, arguing controls can discourage new construction. Wright said Medicine Hat saw about 352 new housing units built in the past year, its second-highest total in a decade after a prior 10-year slump.
On homelessness, Smith said the province is working with the city on a potential site for a new shelter and navigation centre, alongside expanded addiction recovery services expected to add hundreds of beds. Wright highlighted the return of full maternity services at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital since April and plans for an urgent care centre.
Air service drew concern after WestJet ended scheduled flights from Medicine Hat Regional Airport in June. Wright said six carriers have submitted proposals to restore service, including a Saskatchewan-style model with province-guaranteed seat minimums, with a decision expected between early spring and early summer. He called restored air service critical to the region's growing aerospace and defence sector.
Other topics included the Oct. 19 referendum, with Smith noting more than 700,000 special ballots requested and urging use of advance voting; a possible tax-filing deadline extension she said she would raise with the finance ministry; and infrastructure, including engineering work on 52 kilometres of Highway 41 and $152 million in Budget 2026 for twinning Highway 3 between Medicine Hat and Whitlaw.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.