What choices would you make?

Budget Consultation 2009


Click to view the Budget Consultation Paper (pdf):

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Every year, British Columbians generate great ideas for improving the services, standard of living and strength of our province. The annual Budget Consultation is your opportunity to tell us your priorities for the next provincial budget. Strong financial management has allowed government to return four consecutive surplus budgets—surpluses that allow British Columbia to make choices in how funds are allocated.

Since 2001, we have seen more than 100 tax reductions. Currently, we have the highest employment on record, the lowest operational debt since 1991 and spending on health care and education has increased over 30 per cent since 2001. We are in a strong fiscal position.

Surpluses allow us to make choices—and it’s with your help that the best budget choices are made. Because of the prior budget decisions that you’ve helped to shape, we have fiscal room available to focus on your priorities. So we’re asking you:



Finance Minister Colin Hansen


Click here to access the Legislative Committee's Online Response Form
  • What spending priorities should we focus on next?
  • We’re legally committed to lowering your taxes. Which tax would you most like to see reduced?

The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services—an all-party committee of the Legislative Assembly—is conducting province-wide public consultations in September and October to seek the views of British Columbians and will table its report by November 15, 2008. The Consultation Paper explains how you can present your ideas to the committee either in person, through an on-line questionnaire, or directly by mail.

For more information, please visit the Committee’s website at www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations .

I look forward to hearing what choices you would make. Thank you for participating.

Sincerely, Colin Hansen

Minister of Finance