The BC Government’s Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services finished 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 wanted 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 past few weeks, we have posted a running tab of the amount of requests this committee receives. Some cost estimates came from the groups themselves; others are our educated guestimates.

Your CTF, by the way, presented to this committee on Tuesday, October 13, at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey. We didn’t ask government to spend more money. Click HERE for our recommendations.

• After all 10 days of meetings, the grand total: $18,596,676,000   
• NEW! On Day 10, they received $3,333,080,000 in requests.
• On Day 9, they received $4,467,300,000 in requests.
• On Day 8, they received $273,291,000 in requests.
• In the second half of their meetings on Day 7, they received $245,080,000 in requests.
• In the first half of their meetings on Day 7, they received $133,100,000 in requests.
• 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 10 breakdown:

Day 10 - Wednesday, October 14, Richmond

• The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC wants more money for colleges and universities, student debt forgiveness, lower tuition, and restoration of Adult Basic Education programs. All have been previously counted in our running tally.
• The Parent Advocacy Network for Public Education wants more money for schools. Previously counted in our running tally.
• The Victoria Make Transit Work Coalition wants more money for BC Transit (a 10% increase of the provincial grant to BC Transit would cost $10.4 million), more buses in Victoria ($6.6 million), removal of carbon tax revenue neutrality tools (already included). Total: $17 million.
• The BC Cycling Coalition wants $1 billion in bike infrastructure and planning.
• The Insurance Bureau of Canada wants more resources for earthquake, wildfire and severe weather preparedness. Let’s ballpark $15 million.
• Dr. Mychael Gleeson wants more money for legal aid attorneys to hire experts. We’ll put this at $2 million.
• Coast Capital Credit Union wants to keep its tax credit. Already costed.
• Robin Tavender wants more money for people on social assistance - $9,600 per year more. Roughly 185,000 people rely on assistance. That works out to $1.776 billion.
• Larry Woodrow wants trail volunteers indemnified by government, more provincial regulation of trail rules and standards, the Trans Canada Trail deemed a linear park, and longer parks seasons. We’ll put this at $10 million.
• The BC Integrated Youth Services Initiative wants $7 million in funding for its youth addiction and mental health services. 
• The Fraser Health Region Hospice Advisory Committee wants $1.21 million in funding.
• The Office of the Seniors Advocate wants a bigger seniors rental grant and a program for elderly homeowners to defer household expenses. They put this at $38 million.
• The Burnaby Board of Trade wants a PST tax input credit worth $461 million.
• Sheryl Demers wants more money for respite care for families with adult children with disabilities. We’ll ballpark this at $5 million.
• The Coquitlam School Board wants more education funding – already calculated.
• The BCIT Student Association wants more post secondary funding – already calculated.
• Prostate Cancer Canada wants more men tested. Cost $870,000.
• The Peace Valley Landowner Association wants Site C stopped.