By Alex McCuaig

If the provincial investigator examining the City of Medicine Hat’s operations is supposed to be a referee, it might be time to step in and stop the fight between the municipality and Nicole Frey.

It’s an ugly brawl and it doesn’t matter if Hatters feel Frey is a freedom fighter or are shocked at the inability of the municipal government to deal with someone with a Facebook account and a bone to pick.

The investigator may want to take into account other growing battles with City Hall, not least of which is the unaddressed concerns of the Medicine Hat Utilities Ratepayer Association.

The obvious tensions around the city council horseshoe don’t bode well as media outlets look to their annual local news story of the year choices – which really isn’t a choice at all.

It’s as sad and depressing a story than one about a punch-drunk fighter swinging widely on the way down to the mat one last time.

If the provincial investigator isn’t prepared to at least step in with a proverbial standing eight count to city hall, the first ten months of 2025 look to follow the same trend as the last year.

At least Hatters can take cold comfort that October will be the end of the scheduled four-year bout.

While Community TV has taken a few lickings, it hands them out as well.

The ultra-thin skinned city hall has struggled with the criticisms against it, spending more time dealing with Frey than the ever-growing number of Hatters who have grown skeptical of council’s abilities.

Hatters may hate Community TV; they may love the web-based broadcaster.

They can love to hate or hate to love the news and information site.

Or they can choose to simply ignore its content writ large or in part.

But no one can deny it is presenting information other Hat news outlets aren’t when it comes to city hall.

Community TV revels in the muckraking tradition of journalism and doesn’t see such a historic information dissemination philosophy as a pejorative.

And, like it or not, Community TV picks up and presents stories and information that are not considered newsworthy by other organizations.

If the city is looking for a fight with Community TV, it might want to deal first with who it has in the ring already. Current opponents have figuratively dished out two black eyes along with a bloody nose to city hall.

It’s time the provincial investigator steps in before city hall picks another fight it can’t win.