Albertans asked for input on 2017 budget

Premier Rachel Notley and Finance Minister Joe Ceci are encouraging Albertans to voice their opinions on the upcoming provincial budget.

The province will hold two telephone town halls this week to give Albertans the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

The town hall for northern Alberta residents takes place on Monday while southern Alberta residents, including Red Deer, can participate in the town hall on Tuesday. Albertans can also submit feedback online.

“As we work on Budget 2017, we need to know what we can do better to help make your life better,” said Notley in a release. “More jobs, more training opportunities, protecting funding for hospitals and schools, and new initiatives to make life more affordable for regular families — these are just some of the areas where we want your honest advice.”

The Finance Ministry has been in pre-budget discussions with a range of industry and economic stakeholders and business, nonprofit and community leaders over the past few months.

Despite last year’s job losses and widespread grumbling about the carbon tax, Ceci is hoping for “good, adult conversations” and fruitful ideas about how to keep provincial spending in check.

Earlier this month, Ceci said Alberta continues to face a host of economic challenges, including the stubbornly low price of oil.

The deficit for 2016-17 is projected at $10.8 billion. The 2017-18 budget will come down in March.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

The telephone town halls take place on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Publicly listed land line numbers that are not on the National Do Not Call list will automatically get a call to participate.

Mobile users can sign up in advance or call in toll free at 1-855269-4484 at least 10 minutes before the start of the town hall.

The town halls can also be accessed online.