Premier Danielle Smith and local MLAs will host a town hall in Medicine Hat on February 21, 2026, to discuss regional services and answer questions from the community. The event is scheduled for the Eresman Theatre at Medicine Hat College and will focus on provincial priorities including healthcare, water conservation and major infrastructure projects.
The town hall is expected to include updates on the provincial healthcare transition and on intensive-care capacity at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. Budget 2025 set aside $5 million to expand ICU capacity for Medicine Hat and Lethbridge; Medicine Hat is slated to receive eight new ICU beds as part of that funding. Residents can also expect details on the Highway 3 twinning program, including planning and design work for the Whitla / Seven Persons–to–Medicine Hat section. Current progress on the road expansion can be followed on the province’s Highway 3 twinning page.
The panel will solicit community feedback ahead of a planned 2026 provincial referendum on federal overreach and Alberta’s relationship with the federal government. Premier Smith and Justin Wright, MLA for Cypress–Medicine Hat and Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health (South), are also expected to discuss long-term water-security strategies following the 2024 drought cycles and the province’s water-sharing agreements.
The town hall will use a moderated-panel format followed by a Q&A session where residents can ask questions from the floor or submit them in advance. The meeting comes as both Premier Smith and MLA Justin Wright face active recall petitions driven by community concerns about healthcare and other provincial policies.
