Wow! I was not expecting this to cause such an uproar but I am happy it did.
Our petition made front page news today in Medicine Hat in the Medicine Hat News edition.
The City had an opportunity here - to do right. They have failed, and allowed their Deputy Mayor to pour gas on the fire today.
I'm sorry for the length of this email. I wish this wasn't happening. Unfortunately for all of us, it is and I think it's important that you see.
Shila Sharpe, Council Member and current Deputy Mayor, issued a comment in the paper that was exactly in line with the behavior she is being called out on in the petition.
"In an interview with the News, Sharps acknowledges that cost of living is a difficult problem not just for the local community but across the country, but that the power to handle such matters comes from other levels of government. “Regulated rates are set by the province,” says Sharps in regards to higher costs on utilities, energy and groceries. “That isn’t a Medicine Hat decision.”"
Just more high level excuses, deferral and blame, and zero problem solving an action.
In response to the petition, the City referred any members of the public interested in having a voice to apply for a seat on one of their many committees. Upon visiting the page they refer to, there is a message saying that applications closed Feb 7, 2023. Despite asking for clarification from the City I've not receive any.
I've also asked for clarification from the City on if these positions are paid. I've not received a reply.
I've been told the committee members are voted in by the very Council they are meant to police which to me seems like a conflict of interest. I've also been told that there is no requirement for a certain level of experience or training, or knowledge about the matters before the committees, to sit on one. And now we start getting to the root of the problems.
To make matters worse, Shila Sharpe posted on her Facebook page today about information overload and how not to believe what you read, and keep things positive. (I'd keep them positive if they were positive but that seems be something she is uninterested in hearing). She used hashtags such as #PositivityMatters #FactCheckForGood #SpreadTheTruth #nomoredrama
Apparently we should be positive while going broke, and stop being dramatic. Toxic positivity will get us no where.
Shila Sharpe, again acting as Deputy Mayor today, also used a laughing emoji at my response to her post with a clip from the very meeting where she said she had had "nothing better to do" than do some research on an issue she would be tasked with voting on. After I called her out publicly on the emoji, and asked her why she found comments and concerns from the citizens of Medicine Hat laughable, she removed the emoji, edited her comment, and ignored my question.
She also chastised another community member's comment on her post, saying "you do know that every meeting his public, correct? And you do know that it’s actually on YouTube.? You might want to check those out before reading a post ." THIS IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER? OUR DEPUTY MAYOR? Feeling it's okay to publicly shame her constituents?
I've since messaged the Mayors office asking for an inquiry to Shila Sharpes behavior today - I believe she has breached the Councillors code of conduct.
Please consider doing the same. Enough is enough.
Linnsie Clark - mayor@medicinehat.ca; 403-529-8181
Shila Sharp - shisha@medicinehat.ca; 403-458-3218
Council's contact info can be found here as well: https://www.medicinehat.ca/en/government-and-city-hall/council-members.aspx
We are so much stronger together, as the events unfolding over the last few days highlight.
They told us we couldn't do it...but we are!
Thank you so much for your support! Let's keep this moving!!
Nicole