Provincial Minister of Finance, Carole Taylor is in Prince George today to address a luncheon sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.  She will make an address that will focus on the Budget 2007 Consultation Paper which she released about two weeks ago.   

Her visit is a precursor to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Service session which is set for Wednesday in Prince George.   The Committee is holding a public meeting from 4-8 p.m. in the Nechako Room at the Coast Inn of the North, looking for input on what should be addressed in the budget for 2007.  According to Prince George North MLA and Minister of Agriculture, Pat Bell, the public consultation process produces results.   He says many of the top ten recommendations from the public have been incorporated into Provincial budgets.

The Committee is visiting 14 communities this year, with Prince George on Wednesday, after a morning session in Fort St. John, then on to Terrace and Prince Rupert for Thursday.

Anyone wanting to make an in-person presentation has to pre-register.  That can be done by contacting the Office of the Clerk of Committees at 1-877-428-8337 (toll free) or a submission can be made by e-mail at FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca