OPINION – Keep the MCC Discussion Going

Dave Condon presents to council during the public hearing on the topic of transitioning the city’s energy division to a municipally controlled corporation. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

Public discourse on topics of high importance to the residents of Medicine Hat is a good and worthy activity.

Debate involving the future of our energy division will serve to educate the public on a highly complex topic if nothing else.

Scott Payne presents during the MCC public hearing. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

Taking time to allow for both discourse and debate – on top of the deluge of facts, figures and presentations – will be in the best interests of Hatters when it comes to the topic of shifting our energy division to a municipally controlled corporation (MCC).

During the best of times, this is a difficult decision.

The situation facing council right now is far from ideal to make such a monumental decision with a provincial investigator’s report into city governance days away from being presented publicly.

The timing is also problematic as a municipal election is just months away with a new city council having the ability to strike down any decision made by their predecessors. Or, conversely, waiting for a final decision until after October’s election would allow councillors – seeking re-election or newly elected officials – the chance to defend a position on a MCC with a clear mandate from the public.

Despite the complexity, Hatters who turned up to the public hearing on Tuesday should be commended for demonstrating a good understanding of our city’s energy division. In some cases, their questions and comments reflected a far better comprehension of the energy division than Hatters have seen from current councillors.

If nothing else, presenters made their opinions known in a clear fashion, something the current council has yet to do as the clock ticks down to the next election.

Members of the public in the gallery during the MCC public hearing. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

If the goal of the current debate on the MCC is to convince a plurality of Hatters this is the right decision, that goal has not been met.

And if there was one comment which best reflected that position, Craig Ruttan hit a bullseye.

The local chartered accountant raised the question of taxation regime changes by transitioning the energy division into an MCC during Tuesday’s public hearing. As differing levels of government in Canada can’t tax each other – from property taxes to GST to provincial sales tax – Ruttan asked the question how moving to a MCC will impact tax payments.

Ruttan was told there are potential changes in how a MCC will pay tax, but city administration has yet to figure out the details yet.

“Overall, there seems to be a lot of details we don’t have yet,” responded Ruttan.

But his most pointed comments came as he closed out his presentation at the public hearing, speaking to the only advantage he can see to transitioning to an MCC.

“It provides political cover for unpopular or difficult decisions that councillors may not wish to make,” he stated. “I would recommend to any councillors that do not wish to make unpopular or difficult decisions to not stand for election in the coming election so as to avoid taking on that responsibility.”

Ruttan gave councillors further food for thought regarding the timing of making a final decision on the MCC, suggesting that should wait until after the election.

Members of council listen to presenters during the MCC public hearing. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

“If council cannot see a way forward with the publicly controlled entity, I would recommend that instead of making a decision now, with a quite honestly famously dysfunctional council, to postpone a decision until after the election or to make it a question in the coming vote,” Ruttan.

He concluded, “there is no need to do this and separating out a beloved public utility will be a deeply unpopular decision for the people here in case you want to maintain your seats here in the future.”

No member of council remarked or questioned Ruttan’s comments.

Hatters should take note of that silence from council as it was the most definitive statement made by them the entire evening.

A new council might be able to respond to such an indictment as this decision merits further discourse and debate to thread a path towards the best course of action to meet the challenges ahead.