Medicine Hat Community Foundation Updates

Summary#

This private bill updates the law that sets the rules for the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta. It refreshes the list of places the foundation serves and changes who sits on a key committee. It also updates the names of public bodies to current titles.

• Redefines the “Community” the foundation serves to list specific cities, counties, and special areas, plus all towns, villages, and hamlets within those boundaries.
• Names the City of Brooks (reflecting its current status) and adds Special Area No. 4; it no longer lists Cypress County.
• Changes the foundation’s committee membership: the Board will appoint five members from set categories, and the chair can be any mayor or reeve from the region, not only Medicine Hat’s mayor.
• Updates the court title to “Alberta Court of Justice.”
• Does not change taxes or create any government program.

What it means for you#

• Residents and communities

  • If you live in the City of Medicine Hat, the City of Brooks, the County of Forty Mile No. 8, the County of Newell, the Municipal District of Acadia No. 34, or Special Areas No. 2, 3, or 4—or in a town, village, or hamlet within those areas—your community is within the foundation’s defined service area.
  • Some places listed before are not named now (for example, Cypress County). If you live in an area that is not listed, check with the foundation to confirm eligibility for grants and support.

• Local governments

  • Any mayor or reeve from within the service area can be appointed chair of the committee. This spreads leadership opportunities across the region.

• Non-profits and charities

  • If you serve people in the listed areas, you remain eligible to seek grants from the foundation.
  • The committee will include a justice, a chamber of commerce president from the region, a former board or committee member, and a member-at-large. This may broaden the viewpoints that inform the foundation’s work.

• Donors

  • The bill clarifies where the foundation can focus its charitable work, which may help you align gifts with your community.

Expenses#

Estimated public cost: none; the bill makes organizational changes to a private community foundation.

• No new taxes or provincial programs.
• Any costs would be internal to the foundation (such as updating policies and appointments).

Proponents' View#

• Updates the service area to match today’s municipal names and boundaries, reducing confusion.
• Broadens regional representation by allowing any mayor or reeve from the area to chair, instead of only Medicine Hat’s mayor.
• Keeps respected voices at the table (a justice and a chamber of commerce leader) while adding flexibility with a former member and a member-at-large.
• Moving to board-appointed seats makes it easier to fill vacancies and maintain continuity.
• Aligns titles (like the court’s name) with current usage, improving clarity.

Opponents' View#

• Removing Cypress County from the list could leave some nearby communities, such as Redcliff, outside the foundation’s defined area.
• Eliminating the dedicated Trades and Labour Council seat may reduce direct worker representation.
• Having the Board appoint the committee could concentrate influence and reduce independence.
• Changes to the map and committee could cause short-term confusion about who is eligible for funding and who represents which areas.