Regional planning

Before development can occur in Medicine Hat, the proposed project(s) must align with the policies in the applicable regional plans.

Regional planning involves high-level plans which contain policies and/or guidelines which apply to an entire region of a province. Such plans are very broad in scope and may cover a wide range of topics.

Regional plans which apply to Medicine Hat
South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
  • The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP) establishes a long-term vision for the South Saskatchewan Region and aligns provincial policies at the regional level to balance Alberta's economic, environmental and social goals.
  • The regional plan also includes strategies for responsible energy development, sustainable farming and ranching, recreation, forest management, and nature-based tourism.
  • It has been established under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, and the Land Use Framework.

View SSRP
Tri-Area Intermunicipal Development Plan
  • The Tri-Area Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) is a series of planning agreements between the City of Medicine Hat, the Town of Redcliff and Cypress County.
  • The purpose of the IDP is to establish a regional framework for attracting and coordinating economic opportunities and managing land use, subdivision and development in the IDP area.
  • The three municipalities aspire to improve opportunities to secure a robust and durable economic base, improve consistency in land development and enhance intermunicipal efficiency and communication.
  • Another goal is to be “development ready” and future-oriented in their planning efforts and thus improve the area’s services, cost efficiency and value to new economic opportunities.

View IDP
Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework
  • The Municipal Government Act requires that municipalities that have common boundaries adopt an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) and an IDP with each other.
  • An Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) was prepared collectively by the City of Medicine Hat, Cypress County and the Town of Redcliff.
  • It is a tool to facilitate and encourage cooperation and cost-sharing between neighboring municipalities in order to ensure municipal services are provided to residents efficiently.
  • It includes a summary of all intermunicipal servicing agreements that benefit one or more municipalities party to the ICF. An ICF to simultaneously engage on areas, such as:
    • Land use planning
    • Economic development
    • Environmental protection
    • Agricultural preservation
    • Climate resiliency, etc.

View ICF

See entire planning and land development process

Land development process