Ward system drops off city council radar
By Lethbridge Herald on December 4, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Discussions on Lethbridge adopting a ward system have come to a screeching halt as city council rejected a motion which would have brought the matter to the Governance Standing Policy Committee to look into.
The motion was brought forth by councillors Jenn Schmidt-Rempel and Belinda Crowson this week after hearing many community members share their interest in adopting a ward system during the election campaign.
City council did explore a commission to create a ward system back in 2022 which was also voted down.
Schmidt-Rempel explained that the motion would not implement the ward system, but rather open the discussion to the public.
“This (motion) sends it to the Governance Standing Policy Committee to have a discussion to do the work, gather concerns, gather feedback from residents and then the Governance SPC gives the residents an opportunity to maybe voice these concerns.”
Councillor Rajko Dodic voted against the motion for several reasons, with cost being the most prominent one.
He said during previous ward system discussions, council received a report from the City Clerk’s office indicating the initial cost to implement the new system would be just under $300,000, plus an annual cost of $100,000 to maintain the system.
Dodic said council already had the information and bringing it to an SPC meeting would be a waste of time.
“Sending this to an SPC is simply going to result in a self-fulfilled prophecy, the same players are going to be involved, recommendation for a wad system will be voted on and it’s back to council to see if there’s an appetite to spend a ton of money to resolve a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Another point of concern from many council members, including Ryan Parker, was it could cause unequal representation between different wards.
“If I represented just certain areas of the west side, what do I care about the north side? What do I care about Uplands? What do I care about Hardieville? But right now I do care because I’m accountable to the whole community.”
Councillor Ryan Wolfe added that Lethbridge already has contention between the south and west sides, and that having a “big city” mentality could hurt the city.
“If we want to have this vision that Lethbridge is this big city, I think that’s going to be a negative to how we as council work to try to find efficiencies and cost savings without passing on these big tax hikes, which the people of Lethbridge have universally spoken loud and clear that is their number one concern.”
Mayor Blaine Hyggen also voted against the motion due to the amount it would ultimately end up costing the residents of Lethbridge.
While Councillor Al Beeber agreed with many of the talking points of his fellow councillors, he ended up voting in favour of the motion so residents could have their say in the matter.
“I may not vote for it (if brought to council), and right now I probably wouldn’t upon hearing all the discussions I have from Councillor Dodic, but I am in favour of having people have their say at the SPC office that’s part of good governance.”
Crowson added she has received feedback from people saying they want to be included in the conversations city council has.
“What I’m mostly hearing from the people is ‘talk to us, have a conversation with us, actually look into this and include us’…and that can be done at an SPC.”
Ultimately, the public won’t get their say in the matter as it was voted down 6-3.
21-20
The public really needs to get more involved by paying attention to what motions are being brought forward in Council and in what the city is planning, especially at a time when budgets are going to be cut, in finding ways to prevent property tax increases. This would have cost much more . . . so what would have to be cut to pay for this? Policing? At a time when we are dealing with the impacts and crimes from the drug crisis? Snow removal? Social programs?
If and when the city grows to 300,000 or so, then we should consider a ward system, but it is not needed right now and I can’t understand why we have this idea being pushed when there are more important issues Council and committees should be dealing with. Why does this keep coming up when most do not want it?
I have fought for change in this city since 2016 . . . federally, provincially and municipally and from that experience I will tell you that it was hard enough, trying to get politicians to hear concerns and present them, because in one particular case, their policies are what caused many of the issues, in that case the SCS, and refused to hear our concerns.
Now if we had a ward system, if that Councillor was pro-SCS, we would face a brick wall trying to bring change . . . thankfully back then, we had a few Councillors who stood up for our concerns, and faced verbal abuse, and even attacks during Council meetings by one particular Councillor who was disruptive, who acted unprofessionally in Council . . . attacking Councillor’s Mauro and Hyggen for trying to raise concerns over the SCS, the crime, open drug, the lawlessness and the businesses suffering from the impacts.
No if we had a Councillor who’s ward was where it was located, the businesses and residents would not have a voice, was we didn’t have a voice provincially, because the NDP Shannon Phillips was the MLA for the riding impacted by the SCS, and it was the NDP who forced the SCS on us!
Right now, we have several Councillors to bring our concerns to and that is much better for them to discuss the issues and make decisions, rather than one member, who is supposed to be unbiased, but repeatedly, history has shown time and time again, politicians are biased.
The high costs are not worth it . . . the divisions it would cause are not worth it . . . because it would cause division . . . How? You got a new arena, where is ours? Just one example . . . for other issues which are important and were very well said, review the Council meeting and Councillor’s Dodic and Parker reasons why they voted no . . . they presented themselves well in why they voted no and the public really should have hear those reasons!
People are ill-informed on all of the pros and cons of a ward system and their is no reason for city that is only 115,000 to move towards this system! They may be necessary in much larger centers, but we are far from that with out current population.
The proponents are the pro-harm reduction supporters who supported the SCS and other related projects, so forgive me if I state that this is just another bad idea in my mind!
Thankfully, common sense prevailed and we dodged another costly bullet!
Thank you Council for voting this down!
Thank you ‘pursuitdiver’ for keeping us informed and advocating for us over 9 years! I know you are retiring from the fight, but myself and some fellow business owners appreciate all you have done, your sacrifices and your tenacious dedication for our downtown and city! It almost seems taking you out for supper was not enough, but that is all you would accept! Thank you!
I beg to differ. During a meet and greet with him and other people, he stated he was FOR the ward system but have it worked this way: 2 councilors would represent a certain area of the city for 3 to 4 months, maybe even 6, and upon the end of the cycle, another 2 would take over. His reason? This way people in that area know who to directly talk to and get an answer. Right now it’s near impossible because when you call to speak to a councilor, the administrator screens the calls, and nothing gets said to that particular councilor. Now Parker is backing out on what he said? Just goes to show they will listen to the public only for photos and such and not bring everything to the table. Notes weren’t even taken! I can say more, but I’ve said my peace.
I wasn’t there, can’t answer to that, but I was in the Council meeting, heard what Councillor Parker said, and during the 10 minute break he came up to me and even asked me if I agreed with the 6-3 vote and I stated ‘yes’ I agreed. I can only state what I heard in the meeting and what Councillors stated!
I have not had a problem contacting Councillors or even the Mayor, but you must understand they are all busy, Councillors are only expected to put in 15-20 hours per week and many times some put in far more hours.
It may have taken time by I got responses on issues! Much of what has happened at City Hall is due to security reasons, threats, rude rants, and other unacceptable issues those serving have had to deal with.
If you are respectful, patient and have justified concerns, you will get answers . . . just don’t try to get Freedom of Information requests filled by the FOIP department . . . you will be disappointed! . . . but they are not Council members, but part of the bureaucracy!
For the most part, I have had few issues contacting Councillors or the Mayor. I know the Mayor is a hands-on person and wants to listen to all concerns . . . but once in that chair, it was impossible, because there are too many other concerns that need to be addressed, that he can no longer do that, or he wouldn’t get time to sleep or be with family . . . it would be 24-7! I am not sure if you are aware of the volume of concerns they face!
The 2021 election referendum vote on this was 55.69% in favor of a ward system. Does this not mean anything? Also 60.41% favored a third bridge to the Westside.
Only 1/3 of the eligible voters voted in the 2021 election so is that a fair representation of our city to move on an issue that will cost us considerably more? The plebiscite saw 14,611 YES votes and 11,625 NO votes . . . the total eligible voters are 81,276 . . . do you think that is a good representation or our citizens to make such major change to our government?
Let me ask you this . . . it a vote on a referendum for was 55.69% for Alberta to separate from Canada, and only 1/3 of Albertan’s voted in the election, would you think that is reason to separate?
To clarify, I believe Alberta should stand united as a province in Canada, not separate!
When Quebec was holding referendums years ago to separate, the question came up, how much of a tolerance would be allowed to make the decision . . . would 50% be enough to continue? would 55% be allowed to continue?
Many who voted didn’t have an understanding of what they were voting for! They listened to the proponents, stating how great it would be, but did little research . . . just like Alberta was hoodwinked into believing that the SCS sites and harm reduction were the best way to deal with the addiction crisis!
After the government moved away from SCS’s and harm reduction, we now see dramatic reductions in fatal overdoses . . . dramatic! We tried to prevent the SCS from opening after personally observing the loss of life, the devastation, the increase crime and increase in organized crime in Vancouver DTES, but people allowed it, not knowing the impacts, BC started their bad policies in 2003 and never saw positive change, lowering fatal overdoses.
We don’t need to bring in another costly program that will only cause division, and not be positive for a city this size! I question who the people are putting pressure on the primary Councillor pushing for this!
There was not big media involvement in informing people of what the pros and cons would be by employing a ward system and many are to blame for that, including the public, for not taking time to vote and for not educating themselves better before checking the YES box!
People need to be informed to make informed decisions and that was not done in the 2021 plebiscite vote in the election!
Same goes for electing mayor and council. That is how our democracy works. We all can vote.
I’d wager that of those 60% that voted for a third bridge most would quickly change their mind when told the cost might add 10% to their property tax. Those that would still support this bridge probably don’t own property in Lethbridge.