Premier Danielle Smith addresses business and political leader in Medicine Hat on Thursday. (Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

Alberta premier says Medicine Hat has potential to be a technology hub

May 2, 2024 | 6:22 PM

Premier Danielle Smith said Thursday that Medicine Hat and the area around it has potential to become a hub for data centres and remote workers, an opportunity that could define the future of industry in the region.

“With integrated power production, electricity production, natural gas; you have the ability to be the lowest-cost provider of both electricity and heating in the entire province,” Smith said.

Those local advantages can attract companies building power-hungry servers and even the AI industry, Smith told business and political leaders during a luncheon hosted by the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce.

The premier said remote work could also play a large part in local industry, as Canadians flee high costs of living in larger cities.

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“People can work anywhere in the world, but they have to be within an hour of an international airport,” Smith said.

(Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News)

“As soon as you have direct air flights you can attract people here who can work from home.”

Smith’s remarks about Medicine Hat’s potential to be a remote worker community were similar to some of the messaging from the City of Medicine Hat’s economic department.

The United Conservative government is focused on improving air access to medium and small cities across Alberta.

One of the ways the government could tackle a lack of flights is to do what airline executive have told her is a “reverse auction”.

In that scenario, the government would initially subsidize flights until there’s enough passengers for an airliner to make a profit.

“I see that as a really core business of the provincial government,” the premier said.

Smith also said her government is considering how to improve air ambulance services in Medicine Hat and across the province during a question-and-answer period with chamber vice president Steven Pudwell.

That includes improvements to how the Medicine Hat-based HALO Air Ambulance is dispatched and how skilled paramedics can be properly utilized.

Smith was speaking to full ballroom at Medicine Hat Lodge.