Participate in Public Hearings

Members of the public can submit written submissions to Council before the deadline set out in the public notice to clerk@medicinehat.ca. These submissions will be included in the meeting agenda. Late submissions will be shared with Council prior to the meeting but will not be included in the official agenda. If a submission does not meet the deadlines set out in the public notice, members of the public may still speak at a public hearing.

Submissions that contain hate speech, promote discrimination, are defamatory, or include offensive language will not be included in the meeting agenda or shared with City Council and the public.  

At the commencement of the public hearing, the Mayor will outline the sequence of events and procedural expectations for the session. Members of the public are invited to provide verbal submissions either in support of or in opposition to the proposed item under consideration. Speakers in support will be heard first, followed by those in opposition. All individuals wishing to speak must register their first and last name on the sheet provided and clearly state their name into the microphone when they approach the public podium.

Should a participant refer to any written or visual materials—such as maps, photographs, reports, or other documentation—they are required to submit a copy of such materials to administrative staff at the time of their submission, or forward to clerk@medicinehat.ca for distribution.

To ensure fairness, consistency, and the efficient use of time, each speaker is allotted a maximum of five (5) minutes to deliver their remarks. A countdown timer will be displayed to assist speakers in managing their time. Upon expiration of the allotted time, staff are authorized to deactivate the microphone to maintain the order and integrity of the proceedings.

For those attending virtually, the City utilizes Microsoft Teams as its meeting platform. Participants may need to download the application on their device in advance. To join the virtual meeting, please use the link provided on the front page of the agenda.

To attend virtually, you must show your face with your camera on and use the virtual hand-raising function at the appropriate juncture in the proceedings as detailed in section 4.55 of the Procedure Bylaw.

Wi-Fi Connectivity Disclaimer - If you experience connectivity issues while accessing public hearings online, please be aware that various factors can impact your internet performance. In many cases, the issue may stem from your personal Wi-Fi network, such as signal strength, service provider limitations, or other technical challenges. We encourage you to check your home network settings, restart your router, or contact your service provider for assistance if disruptions occur. While we strive to facilitate smooth access to public hearings, we cannot control individual internet connections and appreciate your understanding.