It wasn't an official stop, but Dauphin wasn't left out of the new Manitoba government's pre-budget consultations.
Last Friday, Finance minister Camerson Friesen met with community leaders at City Hall over lunch on his way to an official stop in Swan River. He says there is a real and quantifiable need to reduce the province's debt, but community needs aren't going away either, and we've got to think outside the box.
"We want to make sure that we are leaving no stone unturned when it (comes) to trying to solve the challenges that we are facing as a province. I mean let's be clear: we spend some of the highest amounts in all of Canada on education but our students are receiving some of the lowest marks when it comes to literacy, science, and math."
He says conventional ways of tackling the problem aren't working.
Official pre-budget consultation stops include Winnipeg, Brandon, Swan River, and Thompson. Manitobans can also send a written submission about next year's budget or answer questions online at YourProvinceYourPlan.ca.
