Budget committee makes pit stop in Prince George

“We’re travelling the whole province,” Choi said. “Especially in some of the northern communities, they may not have as much opportunity to meet directly with an MLA or visit the legislature in Victoria.”

The committee has heard about many priorities, including support for small businesses facing tough economic times, more funding for schools, upgrades to hospitals and infrastructure, and support for tourism and environmental projects.

Choi says the process is meant to be non-partisan. The committee includes MLAs from both the government and opposition, as well as Deputy Chair Donegal Wilson, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen.

“It’s not just one person making the decision,” Choi said. “We come together as non-partisan as we can, to objectively reflect what the public wants.”

All submissions, whether made in writing, in person, or by Zoom, are considered equally in the committee’s discussions. Committee staff will collect and summarize the feedback, which will help shape the committee’s formal recommendations to the province.

The committee plans to publish those recommendations in a report this August.

If you miss the Friday deadline, you are encouraged to contact your local MLA’s office directly. Choi says the door is always open.

“We want everyone to know that we’re here to listen,” he said. “Even if they can’t engage with our committee directly, there are amazing local MLAs in different communities.”

The bipartisan committee was in Prince George today (June 17).

To submit written input, visit the Parliamentary Committees Consultation Portal at la-bc.ca/consultations. For assistance, contact the Parliamentary Committees Office at FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca or call 1-877-428-8337 toll-free in B.C.

by Dave Branco

Budget committee makes pit stop in Prince George

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