October 5, 2011
FINANCE COMMITTEE HOLDS PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN CHILLIWACK

CHILLIWACK – Residents of Chilliwack and the eastern Fraser Valley will have a chance to provide input on the 2012/13 provincial budget when the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services holds its public consultation in Chilliwack.

The finance committee encourages the public to bring ideas about spending priorities, tax relief, deficit management and other fiscal issues to them for discussion. The questions, ideas and concerns of the public are discussed by the committee as it prepares its recommendations to the Ministry of Finance.

“This committee’s mandate is to listen to residents and then make tax and policy recommendations to the Finance Minister to assist him with the provincial budget,” says Richmond Centre MLA Rob Howard, chair of the Select Standing Committee. “We’re especially looking for ways to protect vital services such as health care and education, while working to defend and create jobs. I am looking forward to hearing the insights British Columbians have. In these economic times, governments around the world which are not fiscally responsible are being held to account, so this consultation is extremely important.”

“This is a great opportunity for members of our community, whose taxes pay for everything from infrastructure projects to policing, to let the Province know what their spending priorities are,” says Chilliwack MLA John Les.

“Listening to the public is an important part of fiscal accountability as we pursue our goal of delivering responsible provincial budgets,” says Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner.   

The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services will hold its public hearing on Wednesday, October 12 from 9:00am to 12:00pm in the Rosedale Room of the Coast Chilliwack Hotel. The all-party committee will hold 15 hearings in different regions of the province.

The committee system allows members of the public to have direct input into the parliamentary process by making written, video conference and electronic submissions and attending public hearings.
The public is encouraged to attend the consultation meetings in their region or submit written responses by letter or email. Written responses can be sent to: Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, Room 224, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1X4. E-mail responses can be sent to financecommittee@leg.bc.ca.
 

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