Finance Minister Michael de Jong will be hosting a telephone town hall for residents in and around the Fraser Valley on Monday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., to get their input on the 2017 provincial budget.

Communities receiving calls include: Abbotsford, Agassiz, Aldergrove, Chilliwack, Deroche, Dewdney, Harrison Hot Springs, Harrison Mills, Lake Errock, City of Langley, Langley Township, Maple Ridge and Mission.

The telephone town halls give British Columbians a direct opportunity to share their priorities for B.C.’s Balanced Budget 2017. Residents with landlines, and those who have signed up online with their mobile phone numbers, will receive a call just before 7 p.m. to join the one-hour conversation. The minister will take questions directly from callers and ask all participants to take part in a few poll questions that aim to get their priorities for the budget.

Residents with mobile phone numbers need to sign up on the budget conversation website if they want to participate in the telephone town halls: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/budget2017/

The technology is able to access only publicly listed phone numbers or numbers provided through the website.

de Jong also encourages those who are not able to join the town halls, or want another avenue to join the conversation, to visit the budget conversation website. Along with registering their mobile phone numbers for town halls, British Columbians can:

• participate in open dialogue forums on housing affordability, government priorities and economic growth including the BC Jobs Plan; and
• submit questions or comments to the minister.

The Government of B.C. is committed to maintaining a balanced budget that reflects the values and priorities of the province’s population. Everyone is encouraged to take part in the conversations that help shape Balanced Budget 2017.