VICTORIA (NEWS113) – You spoke up and now recommendations from the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services are being made to the provincial government as to how it should allocate money in the next budget.

The first thing is to balance the budget by 2013-14, however this man has another suggestion. “Infrastructure and repairing roads that require major repairs and in doing so they’ll also create jobs.”

Others News1130 spoke to are calling for better transparency, showing distrust and frustration in the people who work in Victoria.

“They don’t deserve more than anybody else. They should not fly first class and they should not go to the best restaurants and drink the best wine. They’re servants, they’re paid by us and they need to be treated like us,” says one woman.

Down the list a bit was helping businesses return to the old PST/GST system by April Fool’s Day next year.

Better home care services to cut hospital costs was up there, along with education and emergency preparedness in the wake of the recent 7.7 earthquake off Haida Gwaii.

Some folks are also hoping for more funding for affordable housing, especially in the Lower Mainland.

Recommendations

Fiscal:

1. Balance the provincial budget by 2013/14.
2. Consider the recommendations of the Expert Panel on BC’s Business Tax Competitiveness.
3. Look for opportunities to streamline the administration of PST, particularly as it relates to the business sector, while maintaining the principle of returning to the PST as it existed prior to HST implementation.
4. Consider, as part of the Finance Minister’s Carbon Tax Review, the submissions received by this Committee on the carbon tax.

Health:

5. Review the funding model for community hospices and ensure that funding is provided in an equitable and predictable manner.
6. Increase homecare services to save hospital costs as these services are less expensive than hospital beds.
7. Provide support for community-based agencies that provide addiction treatment services, using a community health and wellness approach.
8. Work with the BCMA and medical colleges to improve residency and internship opportunities for British Columbian medical students trained abroad.
9. Develop short- and long-term water supply solutions for the Kelowna and surrounding region so that quality drinking water is provided practically, cost effectively and to provincial and federal standards.

Education and Skills Training:

10. Develop a provincial career-training model to meet the educational needs of high-school students, based on the Northern Opportunities partnership model, and fund it accordingly.
11. Commission research on the number of children entering kindergarten with developmental and learning challenges and take action on the results.
12. Undertake research into graduation rates for immigrant youth in the K-12 school system.
13. Continue support for seismic upgrades in K-12 schools.
14. Resolve fiscal and accounting standard issues that continue to create challenges for post secondary institutions’ ability to manage their budgets prudently and to access capital outside of government.
15. Continue to provide access to post-secondary education opportunities and address affordability issues affecting students.
16. Reinstate the separate budget line for public libraries.

Community and Social Services:

17. Continue annual funding for sport, as provided by the 2010 Sport and Arts Legacy Fund, in the next three-year budget plan and base budget of the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
18. Review and streamline the RFP procurement policy for not-for-profit community service providers, and consider eliminating the monthly invoicing and payment systems for agencies that have been accredited for three or more consecutive years.
19. Provide funding for transition houses and women’s centres to meet increasing demands for community-based services.

Economic Development:

20. Ensure adequate resources are in place for key permitting ministries to eliminate the permitting backlog and also with particular focus to ensure the retention of expert staff so critical to the process.
21. Partner with other levels of government to ensure that appropriate community infrastructure and services are developed in areas anticipating major growth from natural resource development.
22. Continue providing funding for infrastructure development and target funds for high priority projects that will enhance BC’s international trade potential.
23. Develop Internet connectivity and cell phone coverage to enhance economic development opportunities and emergency preparedness.

Other Budget Priorities:

24. Provide stable and long-term funding for the justice system, including support and programs to ensure equitable access and alternative dispute resolutions.
25. Support and provide funding for restorative justice programs.
26. Make sure that the province achieves the most effective economic benefits from the Provincial Nominee Program in meeting BC labour market demands.
27. Work to ensure that employment standards and occupational health and safety regulations are extended to and enforced for temporary foreign workers residing in British Columbia.
28. Ensure that adequate funding is available to continue recent efforts to support farmers’ markets.
29. Develop a strategy to deal with invasive species, specifically saltwater and freshwater species.