Provincial Finance Minister Stan Struthers has kicked off his annual series of public budget consultation meetings across the province. He says the purpose of these meetings is to gain advice from Manitobans on Budget 2012, adding they have a right to be involved in the process and to do so directly with the minister of finance. Struthers is encouraging everyone to take part in the meetings and express their values and interests as to where the province needs to be going with it's 2012 budget.

When putting the year's budget together, Struthers says they need to keep an eye on what's happening internationally, adding 2011 was an economically challenging year. He adds the global recession has been negatively impacting Canada and all of it's provinces and territories. Struthers notes there are also some real challenges Manitoba will face in terms of the flood expenses from 2011, adding it was an unprecedented flood and now there is an unprecedented price tag to go along with it. He says these concerns are something the province needs to incorporate into it's budgetary planning, adding it needs to be in contact with it's federal partners and find ways to accommodate Manitobans in their time of need.

Meanwhile, Struthers was asked how concerned Manitobans need to be of possible tax increases in light of expenditures coming down the road.

"We want to take a very moderate approach when it comes to taxes" replied Struthers, adding "there are some one trick ponies out there who think you can solve all of the world's problems by decreasing taxes."

Struthers points out in the past Manitobans have seen some reasonable decreases in taxes. He adds the province is in a tough economic time, but says the government wants to make decisions that stimulates the economy and grows the pie. Struthers notes they will take a very reasonable approach when it comes to both expenses and revenues when putting the 2012 budget together.

Speaking on the topic of expenses, we asked Struthers if he had any idea at this point what expenditures will run at to get rural infrastructure back to what it needs to be after this summer's flood.

"The total bill right now for the flood is $850 million.  We expect that to continue to rise a little bit, so we want to work with our federal partners in terms of paying off that amount.  I think every day we look at trying to fine tune that number and make sure it is accurate.  If we have accurate numbers, we can make some solid decisions and that's the approach I take."

As when putting any budget together priorities for the future are established, the same goes for the provincial budget process. Struthers says the usual ones include health care, education and infrastructure, adding however he's starting to hear more people strategically talk about skills sets, meaning training opportunities. He says the government wants to make sure that the province faces an economic downturn with investments in skills training so that employment levels can remain strong, as they have in the past.

Struthers says everyone is welcome to come to the public consultation meetings in their area and encourages anyone interested to come speak with him.

"I'm sure that Manitobans want to take a moderate approach, that they want to take a planned approach like we have been doing. We have our 5-year economic recovery plan in place.  We are now planning for year three of that 5-year plan, so I want to make sure Manitobans can tell us whether they think we're on track or whether we need to make adjustments and what their priorities are.  We don'tr want to be coming forward and hacking and slashing at those very necessary public services that Manitobans really value.  This is a very good opportunity for Manitobans to come forward and have their say in what is a very important day in our legislative process, and that's budget day."

Here is a schedule of when and where the public consultation meetings are taking place:
    - Jan. 16, Brandon, Sokol Hall, 33 11th St.;
    - Jan. 18, north Winnipeg, Win Gardner Place, 363 McGregor St.;
    - Jan. 19, Thompson, St. John's United Church, 52 Caribou Rd.;
    - Jan. 23, Dauphin, Parkland Recreation Complex, 200 First St. SE; and
    - Jan. 25, Ste. Anne, Knights of Columbus Hall, 132 Centrale Ave.