British Columbia’s pre-budget consultations are the latest exercise to be forced online by the Covid-19 outbreak, as the province launched its first-ever virtual budget consultation on Monday.
The B.C. Ministry of Finance said that the online-only approach is intended to maintain its commitment to transparency and accountability while also protecting public health.
It has scheduled a series of video and teleconference consultations over the next four weeks. Those hearings and presenters will be grouped into small panels based on various themes, it said.
Additionally, B.C.’s select standing committee on finance and government services is inviting pre-budget submissions through an online survey, or with written, audio or video submissions.
“We are in unprecedented times, but the steps we took in budget 2020 to invest in the fundamentals will help B.C. recover from Covid-19 as we work together to build a new normal for ourselves and our economy,” said Carole James, B.C.’s finance minister.
The pre-budget survey is now open. The deadline for submissions is June 26.
The committee’s report to the legislative assembly is expected to be released in August.