Kelly Allard first Medicine Hat resident to register for council election

“A lot of them ran on transparency the last time. And I think a lot of the new council members, I think they really had their hearts in the right place,” she said.

“But I think they were misled by administration who says, ‘Well, you’re not allowed to ask about that. And if you ask about that, it’s going to be seen that you don’t trust us.’ And that should never be happening,” she added.

“I’ve seen council members around the horseshoe saying, ‘Well, you know, it’s not that I don’t trust you guys.’ And they’re almost apologizing for asking questions. You know, when did that become a thing?”

Allard said that council is present to ask questions, and administration is there to answer them.

She said, however, that administration doesn’t seem to want to answer anything.

Kelly Allard. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Allard has lived in Medicine Hat for over 35 years, and said she can offer a different perspective from someone who may have been born and raised in the city.

She said she would like to improve the transit system, as it doesn’t run on holidays, when users still rely on it.

She said it doesn’t access areas that are also necessary.

Allard said she would like to see Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park thrive again, as she said it has fallen into disrepair — including the fountain that hasn’t run for years.

Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park fountain. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

She also addressed the housing situation, and said the Mustard Seed lost the trust of residents and council, and that the city should look at another provider for the unhoused.

Allard said that since her last run for council, she has done extensive research and has following everything about council for the past four years.

“I think I might be able to teach them how to work and play well together because they’re obviously not doing that,” she said.

“I can have a disagreement with somebody and still go out and have a coffee or a beer with them after. Just because you disagree with somebody doesn’t mean that you have to stop talking to them,” she added.

“People are allowed to disagree on things. And there’s no way that there should be unanimous votes at the horseshoe. You should have different opinions. You should have people voting different ways.”

Allard said she thinks one of the main problems is council only being part-time — the only full-time council member being the mayor.

She said she doesn’t think council is paying attention, and are turning over too much responsibility to other city staff.

“They used to call [Medicine Hat] the ‘Oasis of the Prairies’, and it really is,” she said.

“We’ve got so many lovely trees and parks and businesses, but I think council really needs to step up.”

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Kelly Allard first Medicine Hat resident to register for council election

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