Lethbridge Minute: Issue 236

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

📅 This Week In Lethbridge: 📅

• A Fraser Institute report found that Lethbridge had the highest per-capita municipal spending among Alberta’s 10 largest cities in 2023 at $4,423. The City, however, says the numbers need context. Including all 26 municipalities in the study, Lethbridge ranked third, behind Grande Prairie County and Red Deer County, with Medicine Hat’s much higher figure excluded due to its unique operation of all local utilities. If Lethbridge’s electric utility costs were also removed, its per-capita spending would drop to $3,287, ranking it 11th. The City also says its inflation-adjusted spending grew more slowly than in 10 other communities between 2009 and 2023, though revenues per person rose faster than average. A separate City analysis in July found Lethbridge had the lowest annual combined utility charges among 23 Alberta communities, but ranked mid-range for housing costs and property taxes.
  
  
• The Alberta Government has awarded a $9.2-million grant to support the first phase of critical upgrades at the Lethbridge Water Treatment Plant. This initial phase includes installing a new high-capacity clarifier and upgrading electrical systems to replace aging equipment and add backup power. Valued at $67.2 million in total, the project aims to ensure the plant can meet the growing demands of Lethbridge’s expanding population and business sector, currently serving over 133,000 people across 10 municipalities. The upgrades will increase the plant’s daily capacity from 150 million litres to 180 million litres, with future phases planned to expand capacity to 250 million litres. Construction for phase one is set to start soon and is expected to finish by December 2027. Officials say that these improvements come without increasing residential water rates for this phase. The City plans to seek additional funding for subsequent expansion stages.
  
  
• The Lethbridge Police Commission has extended Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh’s contract to August 2029, citing his leadership and the city’s improving crime statistics. Appointed in 2020, Mehdizadeh is credited with helping reduce the city’s Crime Severity Index by 19% in 2024, marking three years of consistent decline. The Commission praised his focus on proactive policing, community engagement, and use of data-driven strategies. Mehdizadeh thanked the Commission and community, saying he remains committed to serving Lethbridge with his team. Despite the positive outlook, online commenters expressed frustration with persistent downtown crime and homelessness, calling for more visible, proactive enforcement. The Lethbridge Police Service remains accountable to the civilian-led Commission, which includes seven citizen members and two City Councillors. 
  
  
• Staff at the Lethbridge Airport have joined the Not In My City initiative, a national campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking and train employees to identify and respond to potential cases. Founded by country singer Paul Brandt in 2017, the program includes a 30-minute training module that helps staff spot warning signs and respond in a way that prioritizes safety, without escalating the situation. Airport manager Cameron Prince noted that while Lethbridge’s airport is small, traffickers may target smaller facilities to avoid detection. Prince said the most critical aspect is avoiding actions that could put victims in greater danger. Lethbridge joins other Canadian airports in adopting the program as part of broader efforts to combat human trafficking.
  
  
• The City is awaiting a full structural assessment after a semi-truck hauling two excavators struck the underside of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge Wednesday morning. Police say the driver, who made a wrong turn into Indian Battle Park, has been charged with failing to ensure sufficient clearance, with additional charges possible. The collision damaged both the equipment and bridge girders, causing a temporary closure in both directions. Traffic reopened later that day following an initial safety review, and temporary support pillars remain in place as a precaution. Engineering crews are conducting detailed measurements and photographs to determine the extent of the damage, a process expected to take several days. Traffic adjustments include a zipper merge for westbound lanes, with daily monitoring of the open lane to ensure safety. Repair timelines will be set once a full report is complete.

🚨 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 advance registration is open online until August 15th.

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

Click here to register now:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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