Breaking: FOIP Win Forces Medicine Hat CAO Ann Mitchell to Surrender Key Documents
AI Generated nightmarish image of Ann Mitchell coghing up the receipts.
In a stunning turn of events, Medicine Hat's Chief Administrative Officer, Ann Mitchell, has been forced to release a trove of documents after losing a hard-fought battle to suppress public access. The Alberta Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) ruled in favor of transparency, upholding our Freedom of Information and Privacy (FOIP) request despite Mitchell’s relentless attempts to delay, dismiss, and deny.
This victory isn’t just ours—it belongs to every Medicine Hat resident who values accountability and transparency from their public officials. And now, the details they didn’t want you to see are yours to explore, free of charge.
What’s in the Document Dump?
The released documents paint a vivid picture of how decisions affecting our city are being made—sometimes shrouded in secrecy, often raising more questions than answers. From contentious budget allocations to questionable correspondence and eyebrow-raising directives, this release offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of city governance.
Why Did Ann Mitchell Fight So Hard?
Mitchell’s resistance to this FOIP request was no accident. Her administration used every trick in the book to block access, from inflated fee estimates to dubious claims of exemptions under the FOIP Act. But thanks to the OIPC’s ruling, the veil has been lifted, leaving her out of excuses and, frankly, out of time.
How You Can Access the Files
We believe in free, unrestricted access to information. That’s why we’ve uploaded the full document dump to our merch store—yes, the same place you can snag your favorite Community TV gear. But here’s the kicker: you can download the documents for FREE.
Simply head over to Community TV’s Merch Store and grab the files. If you’re feeling inspired by this win, you can even support our ongoing fight for transparency by picking up a shirt, mug, or sticker while you’re there. Every dollar helps us keep the pressure on local officials.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about Ann Mitchell or this FOIP request. It’s about holding our leaders accountable and ensuring the public has the information needed to participate in local democracy. When officials try to stonewall, it’s up to engaged citizens—and relentless journalism—to push back.
Medicine Hat deserves better. Let this be a message to every public official: we’re watching, we’re fighting, and we won’t back down.
Explore the documents, share them widely, and let’s continue to shine a light where others would rather keep us in the dark.
