Lethbridge Minute: Issue 232

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

📅 This Week In Lethbridge: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 12:30 pm, there will be a City Council meeting. On the agenda is a review of a recent audit on upcoming municipal election processes. The audit was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and focused on compliance with updated provincial legislation as well as identifying risks, gaps, and inefficiencies. Key challenges identified include unclear rules around voter ID, ballot storage, ballot transportation security, hand-counting vulnerabilities, and risks of not meeting vote count deadlines. The audit recommended several improvements, such as standardized storage protocols, secure ballot transportation methods, expanded voter ID options, and better safeguards for data and counting procedures. PwC also proposed detailed counting strategies, including different methods for single-position races and multi-position races, with timelines and staffing plans to ensure deadlines are met. Advance and institutional ballots may be counted on election night, while others may be tallied the following day using rotating teams. The audit also suggested introducing ballot serial numbers, real-time voter registry updates, and enhanced contingency planning to improve vote integrity.
  
  
• In response to Councillor Schmidt-Rempel’s concerns about the health and appearance of Lethbridge’s boulevards and public green spaces during hot weather, the City outlined its current watering practices. Turf areas receive one inch of water per week, while plantings get two gallons, with adjustments made for rainfall. A tiered priority system, introduced in 2024 and continued in 2025, helps allocate water based on importance, with Tier One spaces like athletic parks receiving the most attention. Newly planted trees are watered weekly for five years, either through irrigation or watering trucks. The City is also planting drought-tolerant trees suited to the local climate. Watering is typically done in the early morning or evening to conserve resources. If drought conditions worsen, water use will be further reduced in lower-priority areas.
  
  
• In response to another of Councillor Schmidt-Rempel’s inquiries, this one regarding private investment in public projects, City Administration clarified that private businesses or individuals can invest in public infrastructure projects in Lethbridge through cash or in-kind donations. These contributions typically begin with a request, followed by consultation with Corporate Finance and Legal to determine appropriate procedures and whether a charitable tax receipt can be issued. If the donation is designated for a specific use, a legal agreement is created to formalize the arrangement. The City is currently developing a Donations Policy to better guide and structure this process, with plans to present it to the Governance Standing Policy Committee in fall 2025.
  
  
• Despite a reduction in flight frequency, Lethbridge Airport has maintained steady passenger traffic following WestJet’s 2024 shift to a single daily flight using a larger aircraft. Airport manager Cameron Prince told Council that while ridership hasn't fully recovered since the departure of Air Canada and the COVID-19 pandemic, reliability has improved with fewer delays and cancellations. In 2024, the airport served fewer than 40,000 passengers, up from around 30,000 in 2023, but still well below the 2019 peak of 100,000. Prince emphasized that continued growth is essential to attract new routes or carriers, and community usage is key to achieving that. The airport is actively engaging with local organizations and gathering data to demonstrate demand to airlines. Alongside commercial travel, the airport also supports medevac services, flight training, and private aviation.
  
  
• Gerry Saguin has joined the growing list of candidates seeking a seat on Lethbridge City Council this October. Saguin says he wants to bring community-driven, results-focused leadership to tackle challenges around safety, affordability and economic growth. With 30 years of leadership, volunteerism and community building, Saguin highlights his work co-founding the Filipino Fiesta Society and launching a Filipino-Canadian festival as proof of his commitment. If elected, his priorities include proactive policing, affordable housing, job creation, and ensuring every resident feels heard and represented. Saguin says he believes in servant leadership and working alongside residents to build what he calls a “safer, stronger, smarter Lethbridge.” Kelti Baird has also announced her candidacy for the municipal election. With a decade of experience running a local business and involvement in several City boards and committees, she says she is ready to address key issues like housing affordability, transportation, safety, and sustainability. Baird aims to work collaboratively with Council and City Administration to create a connected, prosperous future for Lethbridge.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

The City of Lethbridge has launched a new business survey to better understand the needs, challenges, and goals of local businesses.

The survey covers economic conditions, tourism, and City services, aiming to gather insights that will inform the City’s strategies and programs for business development and retention. 

Conducted by Deloitte LLP, the survey will randomly select businesses to participate, but interested businesses can also sign up via the City’s website below:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!