Ward System Rescindment I December 13, 2022 I Micah Quinn I Bridge City News

The potential of a new ward system for city elections was debated rigorously by Lethbridge City Council on Tuesday. Council voted 7-2 to rescind the process of a ward system and directed city staff to rescind the Ward Commission Bylaw. Jenn Schmidt-Rempel was one of the councillors who voted against the motion. She says she was not happy with the outcome but says she will move forward with the will of council.

The previous process approved in June would have cost close to $300,000 to look at recommendations of implementing a ward system by the 2025 election in Lethbridge.

Over 55 per cent of Lethbridge residents voted in favour of implementing a ward system to elect councillors in our city during the 2021 municipal election. Council voted 7-2 to instead look into a process next year of dividing our city into four quadrants. Councillor John Middleton-Hope voted in favour and was asked if he would like to see other cities implement a similar idea.

Middleton-Hope say this Made in Lethbridge model will identify areas of the city with specific needs that need to be addressed. He says this new model will also allow for more citizen engagement with city councillors.