FINANCE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES BUDGET 2010 CONSULTATION

VICTORIA – The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services announced today its plans for conducting public consultations on the Budget 2010 Consultation Paper, released by the Minister of Finance on September 15.  This year’s public hearing schedule accommodates the Legislature’s fall sessional sittings and includes, for the first time, video conference meetings in three communities.  In addition, British Columbians can participate by answering the on-line survey, making a written submission, or sending in an audio or a video file.

“The Finance Committee’s budget consultation is an important annual process and we encourage British Columbians to participate,” said Committee Chair John Les.

Deputy Chair Doug Donaldson added, “We’re ready to listen and look forward to receiving the public’s input.”

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

Registration for the October public hearings opens on September 24. To register, please contact committee staff by phone, 1-877-428-8337, or by e-mail: FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca. 
 
The committee also offers the public the opportunity to respond on-line to the questions in the Budget 2010 Consultation Paper, and welcomes written submissions by letter, fax, or e-mail.  For the first time, the public will have the option to submit their ideas as an audio/video submission, uploading an audio or a video recording.  For more information, please visit the committee’s website at www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations.  The consultation process closes on October 23, 2009 to enable the Committee to begin preparing their report, which must be completed no later than November 15.

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