Having your say on budget

Photo: Carmen Weld

Finance representatives from the federal government were in Kelowna Monday to hear from community members ahead of the 2017 federal budget.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance travelled to Kelowna as part of its pre-budget consultations.

Representatives from several local organizations were given the opportunity to speak to the panel at the Delta Grand Monday morning.

Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola Conservative MP Dan Albas and South Okanagan – West Kootenay NDP MP Richard Cannings sat in on the discussions. Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr was not present.

“Inevitably this committee will make a compendium of suggestions to the finance minister, so we've created this forum to hear from local interests, B.C. based,” said Albas. “From my end, having the committee come to Kelowna is a positive thing. I am happy MP Cannings and myself were able to be here.”

Both candidates said they intended to spend the day listening to the presentations and representing the interests of the community.

“I am here representing the South Okanagan and all of the NDP across the country,” said Cannings. “It is a unique opportunity to have a budget consultation meeting right here in the Okanagan, so that we can have the wine industry represented and others like the local credit unions.”

Miles Prodan, president and CEO of the BC Wine Institute, requested the government consider a tax credit for the B.C. wine industry.

“Running a B.C. winery is incredibly capital intensive, so we were requesting a federal tax credit that would allow wineries to invest in infrastructure to be able to increase production,” said Prodan.

“As demand grows, it will be filled with domestic product or import product and we want it to be domestic product and wineries need help growing that capacity.”

Prodan felt his points were heard and well received from the committee and those in the room. Prodan's request supported by Albas.

Presentations were given by the Canada Green Building Council, First West Credit Union, First Nations Finance Authority, The Low Carbon Partnership, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Unifor Local 2182, Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance, Interior Savings Credit Union, West Coast Aquatic Stewardship Association, Vancouver Community College Faculty Association and the BC Wine Institute.