Today is Greater Trail’s chance to talk finances and budget with the provincial government.
Each year, 17 public consultations are held across B.C. to give the public an opportunity to present ideas for next year’s provincial budget to an all-party parliamentary committee of MLAs.
The public hearing is from 9 a.m. until noon at the Best Western Plus Columbia River Hotel on Rossland Avenue.
“All British Columbians are invited to present their ideas to the committee at a public hearing or by making a submission on-line,” said Dan Ashton, committee chair for the Trail meeting.
Members of the public who have pre-registered are invited to speak for up to 15 minutes, including ten minutes for presentation and a five-minute question and answer period, confirmed Susan Sourial, committee clerk.
Speakers range from ordinary citizens and community groups to stakeholders, she said.
The Trail meeting is almost full with delegations from Selkirk College Student’s Union, Castlegar Hospice Society, alpine ski association, B.C. Food Systems, Kootenay Columbia Teacher’s Unionsher and a few individuals slated to speak, added Sourial.
The parliamentary committee is required to report all public hearing results by Nov. 15 after consultations began in September following the release of the budget consultation by Minister of Finance Michael de Jong.
Public consultations began in the Kootenays Monday with the first stop in Fernie.
Trail is the last Kootenay stop before the committee heads to the Okanagan, the coast and north to Prince Rupert.