… "I believe that our message will be heard and that it will make a difference, " said Bill Bennett, MLA for Easy Kootenay and chair of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.

The committee was in Campbell River this afternoon to listen to the suggestions people have for next year's budget. Speakers had to register in advance to make comments.

North Island MLA Claire Trevena was skeptical that the committee would have much of an impact.

"At the end it's the government that decides whether to listen to the committee or not," she said.

She pointed out that last year the government actually reduced child care funding despite all the suggestions it received asking for an increase in child care funding.

But speaking to the Mirror on his cell phone just before the meeting, Bennett said he was confident that the comments people make to the committee will be used to influence next year's budget.

"It would be a sad day if the taxpayers of the province didn't believe they could have any impact on government process," he said. "For me, it's an honour to go around the province and listen to people tell you what they like about what the government's doing, what they don't like about what the government's doing."