The province’s Finance Committee, the group that will put together a report for the finance minister with suggestions based on public feedback, will be stopping by in person to Smithers.
While the committee did make an in-person stop in Smithers two years ago, last year it was done only through video-conferencing technology.
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson, who also sits on the committee as the deputy chair, said he had advocated for them to come back.
“I’m happy to see that that suggestion was incorporated into the schedule so we have an in-person public forum.”
The meeting is scheduled for Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, but a venue was not immediately known.
While Donaldson referred to a shaky history of the government actually acting on things in the bipartisan committee’s report, he said he’s confident that this year the government is more open to feedback.
“I think it’s a great opportunity. This government says they really want to listen,” he said.
He said in the post-HST province, the impression is that members of the government really want to listen more and consult better with people.
“The finance committee, I would say, is an excellent bipartisan opportunity to do that and we work collaboratively.”
He added, “What I hate to see is people wasting their time. This is time people have taken away from work and families and I certainly don’t want to see that time wasted.”