FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 8, 2006

VICTORIA – The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services announced today its public hearing schedule for the Budget 2007 Consultation process. This year, the Committee will travel to 14 communities to hear from interested individuals and organizations about their fiscal priorities. The public consultation process will be based on the questions contained on the Budget 2007 Consultation Paper. The Minister of Finance will release the consultation paper on Sept. 15, 2006.

“Public hearings are a vital component of the Committee’s work,” said committee chair Blair Lekstrom, MLA. “We need to hear from British Columbians on how they would prioritize targeted tax reductions; spending on health, education, and social programs as well as invest in critical infrastructure.”

The Committee will be holding public hearings in the following locations:

Sept. 19

Nanaimo

10 a.m.-2 p.m.

 

Sept. 27

Surrey

9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sept. 19

Courtenay

6-9 p.m.

 

Oct. 4

Fort St. John

9 a.m.-noon

Sept. 20

Vancouver

9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

 

Oct. 4

Prince George

4-8 p.m.

Sept. 25

Nelson

10 a.m.- 1 p.m.

 

Oct. 5

Terrace

9 a.m.-noon

Sept. 25

Kelowna

5-9 p.m.

 

Oct. 5

Prince Rupert

4-7 p.m.

Sept. 26

Kamloops

9 a.m. -1 p.m.

 

Oct. 6

Abbotsford

9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sept. 26

Williams Lake

5-8 p.m.

 

Oct. 16

Victoria

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Deputy chair Maurine Karagianis, MLA, added,“The Committee wants to hear from a broad cross-section of British Columbians. For this reason, the Committee is pleased to offer translation services to Mandarin, Cantonese and Punjabi speakers at its lower mainland hearings in Vancouver and Surrey.”

The Committee also welcomes written submission by letter, fax, or e-mail. Again this year, the Committee will be offering the public the opportunity to respond to the budget questionnaire on-line. For more information on either of these options, please visit the Committee’s website at www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations. All correspondence, including submissions made using the online consultation form, should be received by the Office of the Clerk of Committees by Friday, Oct. 20.

The members of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services are:

Blair Lekstrom, MLA (Peace River South) Chair

Leonard Krog, MLA (Nanaimo)

Maurine Karagianis, MLA (Esquimalt – Metchosin) Deputy Chair

Jenny Kwan, MLA (Vancouver – Mount Pleasant)

Harry Bloy, MLA (Burquitlam)

Richard Lee, MLA (Burnaby North)

Dave S. Hayer, MLA (Surrey – Tynehead)

Nicholas Simons, MLA (Powell River – Sunshine Coast)

Hon. Gordon Hogg, MLA (Surrey – White Rock)

John Yap, MLA (Richmond – Steveston)

To learn more about scheduling an appearance at a public hearing in your community, or for more information, please visit the Committee’s website www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations, or contact the Office of the Clerk of Committees Office by phone, 1-877-428-8337, or by e-mail: FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca.

-30-

Media and Public Contact:

Kate Ryan-Lloyd, Clerk Assistant and Committee Clerk

Telephone: (250) 356-2933

Room 224, Parliament Buildings

Toll-free: 1-877-428-8337

Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4

Fax: (250) 356-8172

E-mail: FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca