Lethbridge Minute: Issue 231

Lethbridge Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Lethbridge politics

📅 This Week In Lethbridge: 📅

• On Thursday, at 9:00 am, the Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee will meet. The agenda includes next steps for implementing body-worn cameras for the Lethbridge Police Service. Alberta is requiring that all front-line police officers use body cameras by the end of 2026, but this mandate comes with significant costs for new equipment, licensing, staffing and digital evidence management. Administration is asking the Committee to recommend that Council approve up to $555,000 in 2025 and $914,000 in 2026 to meet the deadline, using reserve funding where possible and applying any provincial grant money. Ongoing annual costs of $725,000 to $1 million would be added to the City’s future operating budgets. If Council does not approve the funding plan, the City could face non-compliance with the Province’s policing standards.
  
  
• The Committee will also hear an update on planned facility upgrades for the Southern Alberta Art Gallery. The SAAG revitalization project aims to modernize gallery spaces, improve air quality and lighting, and add new features like a small food service area, outdoor patio, and pop-up theatre to boost community programming and partnerships.  Total costs are estimated at $7.5 million through 2026, with funding from community groups, federal and provincial grants, and local reserves. Once complete, the improved gallery is expected to expand public engagement, attract new bookings, and help the SAAG become more self-sufficient.
  
  
• Also on the agenda is an update on the City’s strategy to grow air service at the Lethbridge Airport. A consultant has been hired, funded through the existing airport budget, to help gather information for engaging current and potential air carriers. Passenger traffic peaked in 2019 but dropped sharply due to COVID, although aircraft movements have increased since, reaching a high in 2024. In 2022, the airport underwent major renovations to improve the passenger experience. The airline industry’s shift toward larger aircraft and centralized hubs has made it harder for regional airports like Lethbridge to maintain frequent service. Community and stakeholder engagement, including with local businesses and institutions, is ongoing to support future planning.
  
  
• Cavendish Farms in Lethbridge will receive $1.4 million in federal funding to help cut emissions and lower its energy use. The money comes through the Low Carbon Economy Fund, which backs projects that reduce greenhouse gases and grow local economies. Cavendish will use the grant to install a heat recovery system at its Lethbridge plant, capturing heat from fryer exhaust and reusing it instead of burning more natural gas. The company says this upgrade will cut fuel costs and make its operations more efficient. Federal officials say investments like this help Prairie communities stay competitive as the economy shifts to lower-carbon technology. Alongside this, a separate project near Coaldale will receive more than $3 million for carbon capture at a feedlot site. Ottawa says both projects are good examples of how local industry and rural Alberta can lead emissions cuts and keep jobs in the region.
  
  
• Lethbridge’s Mayor and Police Commission say the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) will remain in place despite Alberta’s new Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS) option for municipalities. Mayor Blaine Hyggen stressed public safety is the top priority but made clear that LPS will not be replaced. Police Commission Chair Noëlla Piquette echoed this, praising LPS and its good relationship with City Hall. Local leaders argue there’s little public appetite for a provincial police force, and say that most residents want the RCMP to remain Alberta’s provincial police service.
  
  
• Margaret (Magie) Matulic has officially entered the race for Lethbridge City Council ahead of the October municipal election. A local business owner, Matulic says she's running to help guide the city through a transition from old systems of governance to new, citizen-focused leadership. She is emphasizing her non-political background as a strength, and is aiming to engage and educate residents about how local government works. Her top priorities include pushing for government reforms like recall mandates and increased transparency, rejecting influence from special interest groups, and keeping more economic value in the community. Matulic also wants to promote youth engagement and make better use of tax dollars.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Recent changes to Alberta’s municipal elections now require all voters to register before casting their ballots. 

The next municipal election takes place on October 20th, and you can register in advance by August 15th using the online voter registration system. 

(If you miss this deadline, you can still register and vote in person on election day.)

Click here to register now:

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