Smith, Wright pat selves on back at Medicine Hat town hall

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Sunny South News

By Patrick Wachter
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Premier Danielle Smith and Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright highlighted regional economic development, health care investments and provincial policy initiatives during a public town hall in Medicine Hat on Sept. 26.

The event brought together residents from across southeastern Alberta to hear remarks from their elected representatives and put forward questions on pressing local issues.

Wright opened the afternoon session by emphasizing economic growth across the constituency, particularly within the defence and aviation sectors. He says Medicine Hat has emerged as a national leader in uncrewed aerial vehicle development.

“Medicine Hat produces more drones than anywhere else in Canada,” he told the audience of about 40 people. “Not the big cities, not Calgary, not Edmonton, right here in Medicine Hat.”

He cited local industry success stories such as Aztech and UVAD, alongside provincial investments including $200,000 for the Foremost Test Range to support beyond visual line-of-sight flight operations.

Wright also highlighted educational advancements, including the Prairie Rose School Division drone competition and flight academy, alongside the upcoming Yuill School of Agriculture in Dunmore set to open in fall 2027.

He outlined capital commitments from Budget 2026, such as $152 million to twin Highway 3 between Seven Persons and Medicine Hat, $2 million for the Medicine Hat College Centre for Community Wellness and local municipal infrastructure grants.

On health-care services, Wright praised a permanent restoration of local obstetrical care at the regional hospital.

“After three hard years of advocacy, full maternity medicine would be permanently returning to the Medicine Hat Hospital, and it has been underway since April,” Wright said of the service that shut down in July 2021 for nearly five years due to a budget dispute with the UCP government.

Taking the podium, Smith detailed broader provincial economic metrics, noting Alberta has added 300,000 jobs since late 2022. She emphasized fiscal management, highlighting six consecutive balanced budgets, $15 billion in debt repayment and growing the Heritage Savings Trust Fund to $32 billion.

Smith also outlined health-care expansions, including adding up to 18 new intensive care unit beds at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital and expanding orthopedic surgeries.

During a question-and-answer period, attendees raised concerns regarding local crime, housing affordability and administrative hurdles with government programs.

Smith addressed utility cost concerns and a provincial approach to financial relief, suggesting direct funding models provide reliable distribution. On housing, Wright noted local construction of senior facilities, including 150 new units supported by South Country Village.

In response to a resident concerned about suspected drug activity and property crime in his neighbourhood, Smith explained how provincial enforcement resources operate.

“We do have a SCAN team, so they are a surveillance team that gathers the evidence on drug use in homes,” Smith said.

Addressing administrative difficulties with driver licence renewals for seniors and longtime residents, Wright says his office has worked directly with registry agents to resolve documentation gaps.

The discussion also touched on the upcoming referendum scheduled for Oct. 19, which features 10 policy questions on constitutional and governance issues. Smith encouraged citizens to engage with the ballot questions, advocating for a strong provincial stance while maintaining federal unity.

“I believe Canada can work, I believe it is working better every day, and that is why I will keep fighting for a stronger Alberta within Canada,” Smith said.

The session concluded with both representatives taking questions directly from the public floor before preparing for the upcoming fall legislative assembly session in Edmonton.