The BC Government’s Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has set out on their annual pre-budget consultation tour of B.C., hearing from stakeholder groups about what they want to see in the 2016-17 BC Budget. Spoiler alert: most groups want to see a lot more of your money spent.

Many of these causes and ideas are wonderful, but governing is about priorities. Fiscal restraint is absolutely vital. Over the next few weeks, we will post a running tab of the amount of requests this committee receives. Some cost estimates will come from the groups themselves; others will be guestimates.

Your CTF, by the way, is scheduled to present to this committee at 11:50 a.m., Tuesday, October 13, at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey. Rest assured we WON’T be asking government to spend more money.

• After 6 days, the grand total: $10,144,825,000
• NEW! On Day 6, they received $205,400,000 in requests.
• On Day 5, they received $70,200,000 in requests.
• On Day 4, they received $6,288,000,000 in requests.
• In the second half of their meetings on Day 3, they received $719,425,000 in requests.
• In the first half of their meetings on Day 3, they received $384,500,000 in requests.
• In the second half of their meetings on Day 2, they received $937,500,000 in requests.
• In the first half of their meetings on Day 2, they received $1,234,800,000 in requests.
• On Day 1, the committee had already received $305,000,000 in funding requests.

Here’s the Day 6 breakdown:

Day 6 - Tuesday, Sept. 29, Prince George

• The Prince George Chamber of Commerce wants economic diversification, business support, education and skills development, healthy communities and land claim settlements. However, no direct asks were included.
• The Prince George School District wants more money for rural education, similar to the $75 million rural dividend announced by the Premier at the Union of BC Municipalities’ meeting. They also want other items, already included in our count.
• The Omineca Beetle Action Coalition wants a grant of $3.75 million.
• The Prince George Mental Health Consumer Council wants an independent mental health advocate in their city. They say it will cost $200,000.
• The Canadian Mental Health Association, Prince George branch, wants more money for housing for people with mental health concerns and addiction issues. Let’s put that at $1 million.
• The Promotion of Wellness in Northern BC Association wants more money to promote physical exercise as medicine. ActNow BC was called the gold standard, and that was $19.4 million per year a few years back.
• The Integris Credit Union wants their tax credit saved. Previously costed.
• Physiotherapists for Northern Communities want more access to rehabilitative services in northern, rural and remote communities. They also want 20 more physiotherapists graduated annually, through UNBC. Let’s put the price tag for this at $5 million.
• Tolko Industries Ltd. wants a new softwood lumber deal, a competitive tax regime, infrastructure improvements, and industry reforms. I have no idea how to price this, as there were few specifics. Let’s put it at $100 million, as they were talking about some big ticket infrastructure items.
• The College of New Caledonia wants more money, especially for aboriginal students. Let’s put this at $1 million.
• The Vanderhoof MenShed Society wants more services for men. They need some money for a Prince George chapter. $50,000.