Signatures being collected to urge province to step into ongoing woes at Medicine Hat city hall
Medicine Hat's mayor and city council continue to butt heads, and that has some residents asking the province to step in.
Signatures are being collected for a letter that will be sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, asking for an investigation into the municipal government for what organizers call "a lack of transparency and failure to lead."
The ministry says it is not prepared to order an investigation, but "would consider such an action, should electors of the city be able to meet the established legislative requirements with respect to initiating a petition for a municipal inspection."
Last month, Medicine Hat city council voted to suspend Mayor Linnsie Clark's presiding duties, slash her pay and limit her contact with city staff and the city manager to email only.
The sanctions came after an August exchange with city manager Ann Mitchell.
A third-party report concluded Clark breached the code of conduct by failing to treat Mitchell with courtesy, dignity and respect.
Clark has said, "I do not agree with the decision of council and I'm seeking judicial review."
Documents and emails the mayor released on social media show this dispute has been ongoing for months.
Lawyers for the city manager even threatened to sue the mayor for defamation last year.
Clark says she believes the judicial review could start as early as this summer, but it will take months.
The petition, meanwhile, needs to be signed by electors equal to 20 per cent of the city's population.
Medicine Hat currently has a population of close to 70,000.
With files by Damien Wood and Jordan Kanygin
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes
Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
Montreal tech billionaire charged with several sex offences
Tech billionaire Robert Miller has been charged with several sexual assault charges following an investigation by Montreal police.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
NDP wants Liberals to scrap proposed election date change that could secure pensions for many MPs
The federal New Democrats want to amend the Liberal government's electoral reform legislation to scrap the proposal to push back the vote by a week and consequently secure pensions for dozens of MPs, CTV News has learned.
'I didn't think it was real': Oilers fans score free Game 4 tickets from stranger
There's always something to be happy about when the Edmonton Oilers are making good strides in the playoffs, but this is especially true for two lucky fans who were able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Game 4 — for free.
Aurora borealis returning to night skies across Canada this Friday: NOAA
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
Doug Ford suggests immigrants behind Jewish school shooting
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested immigrants are to blame for the shooting of an empty Jewish school in Toronto over the weekend, despite police saying they have little information on the suspects.
Man stabbed in both legs with a machete in Times Square
A man was stabbed in both legs with a machete at New York's Times Square on Thursday afternoon, police said.
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.