Health care, education top British Columbians budget priorities
Kelowna.com
November 13th, 2009
By Adrian Nieoczym

A committee of MLAs that toured the province asking British Columbians about their priorities for next year’s provincial budget has completed its report.

The report by the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has a total of 49 recommendations ranging from health care to education to funding for the arts. During its consultations the committee held public hearings in several communities….

“This is just a series  of recommendations based on the more than 3,400 submissions we received,” said Kelowna-Lake Country MLA, Norm Letnick, who added it is up to Finance Minister Colin Hansen to decide which recommendations make it into the budget….

Opposition members on the committee did not endorse the final report.

“The Committee reached a consensus on many of the report’s recommendations. However, there are several issues – particularly recommendations relating to the HST – which we could not support,” said deputy committee chair and NDP MLA for Stikine, Doug Donaldson, in a government issued press release.

Committee Recommendations: EXCERPTS only

K-12 education

9. Work with boards of education to conduct a comprehensive review of the education funding formula.

10. Work cooperatively with the boards of education on a review of the administrative and reporting requirements for each school district and within the Ministry of Education.

11. Treat the annual facilities grant as a high priority for funding in the 2010-11 Budget.

12. Ensure that the implementation of all-day kindergarten is fully funded….

Other priority programs….

28. Eliminate inefficiency across ministries and improve resourcing to address delays for services and programs for children with special needs.