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Central Albertans give cabinet ministers input on 2012 budget

About 20 Central Albertans sat down with two cabinet ministers on Wednesday to discuss how best to develop Alberta’s 2012 budget.

About 20 Central Albertans sat down with two cabinet ministers on Wednesday to discuss how best to develop Alberta’s 2012 budget.

Civic leaders, healthcare representatives and others discussed their priorities with Finance Minister Ron Liepert and Deputy Premier Doug Horner. Questions included how important is it to balance the budget, have low taxes, spend in priority areas, and save for future.

The individuals who attended the meeting inside Red Deer Lodge were handpicked by Central Alberta MLAs.

Liepert and Horner emerged from the session to say the discussions went well. This is the first time in recent memory that the Progressive Conservative government has been crisscrossing the province to get Albertans’ take prior to the budget.

Typically, members of cabinet would talk with various groups and associations to get their views leading up to the budget. This will still happen through written submissions, but overall, the province wanted to get a “better cross-section of the mainstream Alberta,” said Liepert.

“It’s a good dialogue to have with Albertans and making sure that we’re hearing from them,” said Horner, also president of the Treasury Board. “We tell all the groups that we’ve been meeting with, at the outset, that they have to take off whatever organizational hat they have on. We want to talk to them as Albertans.”

Bruce Beattie, reeve of Mountain View County, said he believes the province is making an honest attempt at understanding what the public wants from the budget. “I think the biggest message I wanted to bring to the table is if the government demonstrates respect of the population, then the population is prepared to contribute towards funding the programs that governments provide,” Beattie said. “So I think it starts at the top.”

He acknowledges that as an Albertan, costs are going up, and the same would be happening for the government as well.

“It was really good to hear the diverse opinions,” Beattie said. “I think it shows how difficult the situation is for any government to make changes. How do you build consensus?”

Horner said they have three more meetings before they come to any conclusion on how the budget should be drafted.

“People are pleased to be able to have the opportunity to take part on the online survey and see the pressures we have to deal with,” he said.

Liepert said it’s also interesting that individuals will come into the session with pre-conceived views and by the time they leave, their opinions are different. That’s because they are more informed about the issues, he added.

Next year’s budget is expected to be “very challenging,” he added.

Normally, the budget process starts in July or August, but with the change of PC leadership, the time frame has been condensed in which to formulate the budget.

“It’s almost a blessing because if we would have started in July or August when the revenue streams looked different, I am not sure all that work would have been that valuable,” Liepert said.

Health care costs are a big issue around the world, Horner said.

“That’s taking up a fair bit of discussions around the table,” he added.

But Albertans are also remarking how blessed they feel about living in this province.

“A large number of people are saying Albertans’ expectations are simply too high,” Liepert said. “This is what we’re hearing.”

Red Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski said she had hoped more young people would have been on hand but a number of them are working or busy with families. She invited people based on whether they were interested in the budget process and whether they were available.

Luke Ouellette, MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, said he believes these discussions are “one of the best things we’ve ever done.”

He said they were encouraged to pick community leaders, so he chose Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood and Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane.

MLAS will be in their constituencies next week to talk with people.

Albertans can also send their comments by mail by Dec. 9 to Tell us What Matters, Alberta Finance, 10557 108 St., Edmonton, AB T5H 9Z9. A survey can also be found at http://alberta.ca/budgetdialogue.cfm

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com