Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka said the Budget 2024 consultation report shows what B.C. residents want to see the Provincial Government focus on.
Shypitka, who serves as deputy chair on the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, said the report covers a vast number of topics.
“Some of the big takeaways are some of the things I think we can all relate to. Health care was a big issue, and of course, that dovetailed into things like addictions, mental health and homelessness,” said Shypitka.
Shypitka said the Committee heard 375 presentations and received 387 written submissions.
“We reached out as far as we could, to any individual or organization to see if they had any input to the budget,” said Shypitka. “We heard presentions on everything from hydrogen to housing to aquifers to addictions.”
The next step is to present the report to the Legislature in the fall.
“It will then go to the minister of finance for a review. Obviously, there’s only so much in the pie, so she’ll have the tough task of making a shortlist. From there, it’ll go the treasury board and hopefully, that will go into the budget for 2024,” explained Shypitka. “Hopefully we’ll see the recommendations I put forward come through and we’ll get some good support out here in the Kootenays.”
Shypitka said he specifically recommended funding for the F.W. Green home, the Canadian Mental Health and Addictions Society, Key City Theatre and the College of the Rockies.
You can read the entire 118-page report below.
More:Â Budget 2024 consultation report