BC fiscal priorities — what should they be?

If you could be the one to decide where the British Columbia taxpayer’s money should be spent and were given three areas from which to choose, how would you decide to spend it? Would you: 1) fund new programs and services? 2) reduce the debt? 3) cut personal income taxes?

Well you may not be able to actually make those decisions personally but the BC government is asking you to help them decide how best to spend taxpayer dollars. And to give BC citizens a choice of ways that they can do this, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services (an all-party committee of the legislative assembly), will be holding province-wide consultations this month and until October 15th, 2010.

Citizens can visit http://www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations and choose one of four options for their participation. You can:

• Send an email by Friday, October 15, 2010 in which you can tell the government what your priorities are, what you would do if there was a surplus to be spent and any additional comments you would like to make.

  Until October 15, 2010, send a letter by mail to:

  The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
  Room 224
  Parliament Buildings
  Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

  Outline your priorities, what you would do with a surplus of money to be spent, and make additional comments as you see fit.

• Submit an audio file or a video file using a webcam to inform the government of your preferences. You can send it by email to FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca providing complete contact information or you can mail it by October 15, 2010 to:

  The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
  Room 224
  Parliament Buildings
  Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

• If you would like to present your budget priorities in person to the Finance Committee you may do so at a public hearing. For a complete schedule of dates, times and locations of public hearings across the province, go to: http://www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations/public_hearing.asp . The schedule contains 9 video-conferencing sessions to facilitate access.

Regardless of the format of your submission, your input is considered evidence and becomes part of the official record of the committee. Your name will be published in the committee’s print and online reports, but your other personal contact information is provided only to the committee while it conducts its work.

Before you make your wishes known to the government in the format of your choice, it is recommended that you carefully read the information provided on their website at: http://www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations