October 17, 2016
Budget 2017 Community Consultation Meetings Underway
– – –Finance Minister Hosting In-person Consultations for Input, Ideas
The first of several in-person consultations to allow Manitobans to offer their ideas and input for Budget 2017 takes place tonight and these consultations will continue in communities across the province, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen announced today.
“Our government continues to make every effort to ensure that Manitobans are given a say in the decisions that impact upon their lives,” said Friesen. “Businesses, Indigenous organizations, non-profit groups and citizens from across the province have been providing input about opportunities for growth and ideas on how northern economic development may be enhanced.”
The finance minister is hosting formal pre-budget consultation meetings starting today until Oct. 26 in several communities across Manitoba including:
- today in Winnipeg from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Canad Inns Transcona, Ambassador Room A, 826 Regent Ave. West;
- Thursday, Oct. 20 in Brandon from 7 to 9 p.m. at 1-545 Conservation Dr.;
- Friday, Oct. 21 in Swan River from 5 to 7 p.m. at 473 Westwood Rd.;
- Monday, Oct. 24 in Thompson from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 274 Thompson Dr.; and
- Wednesday, Oct. 26 in Winnipeg from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque at 2445 Waverley St.
“From infrastructure to health care to education to services for families, each budget affects the lives and the futures of all Manitobans,” said Friesen. “We have invited all parties of the Manitoba legislature to participate in these in-person meetings so that we may work together with all Manitobans to build a better budget, to secure an even brighter future for our province.”
The minister noted the meetings are just one part of the Your Province, Your Plan strategy to include all Manitobans in building Budget 2017. The strategy also includes a citizen budget tool and an interactive budget website. The website, www.YourProvinceYourPlan.ca, features an interactive tool that allows individuals to build their own provincial budget on a computer or smart phone. Participants are asked a series of questions about their provincial budget preferences on topics ranging from health care and red tape to infrastructure and innovation. The tool then uses the responses to build a budget based on the individual’s priorities.
Manitobans can choose to share their input with Manitoba Finance as feedback, as well as on social media to encourage their friends and family to participate in the process.
Manitobans planning to attend the meetings are encouraged to pre-register by emailing minfin@leg.gov.mb.ca or calling 204-945-3952 in Winnipeg. Written submissions can be made online before Nov. 9 at www.YourProvinceYourPlan.ca or by mail to:
Office of the Minister of Finance
Room 103 – 450 Broadway
Legislative Building
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8
To try the online tool, visit www.YourProvinceYourPlan.ca.
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