The all-party Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services yesterday announced its Budget 2018 Consultation schedule, which includes a stop in Cranbrook on Oct. 12.

The annual consultations are held in accordance with the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act and are based on the Budget 2018 Consultation Paper prepared by the Minister of Finance.

There are a number of ways that British Columbians can participate in the consultation, including presenting at a public hearing, making a written, audio or video submission, or completing an online survey.

“The committee members are eager to hear from British Columbians and learn about their budget priorities for the coming year,” said committee chair Bob D’Eith. “The information collected through the consultation process will inform the committee’s recommendations.”

“Many aspects of our everyday lives relate to how the provincial budget is allocated”, added deputy chair Dan Ashton. “Public input is vital to our work as a committee, and we look forward to hearing from British Columbians however they wish to participate.”

Registration for the public hearings opened at 9 a.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 21. This year participants will have the option to register online via the committee’s website: www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/finance

The committee will hold public hearings in a number of communities around the province and will also offer video and teleconferencing opportunities for some additional communities:

Vancouver (Sept. 25); Victoria (Oct. 2); Victoria* (Oct. 4); Surrey (Oct. 6); Richmond (Oct. 6); Prince George (Oct. 10); Williams Lake (Oct. 11); Castlegar (Oct. 11); Cranbrook (Oct. 12); Kamloops (Oct. 12); Kelowna (Oct. 13); Nanaimo (Oct. 13).

*Video/teleconference opportunities for various locations, including: Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Terrace and Smithers.

The consultation will close at 5 p.m. on Oct. 16, and the committee will release its report by Nov. 15.

The members of the committee are:

Bob D’Eith, MLA Maple Ridge-Mission (chair); Dan Ashton, MLA Penticton (deputy chair); Jagrup Brar, MLA Surrey-Fleetwood; Stephanie Cadieux, MLA Surrey South; Mitzi Dean, MLA Esquimalt-Metchosin; Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA Courtenay-Comox; Peter Milobar, MLA Kamloops-North Thompson; Adam Olsen, MLA Saanich North and the Islands; and Tracy Redies, MLA Surrey-White Rock.

No further details about the Cranbrook stop are yet available.

e-KNOW

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Article Share