Yellowknife residents can have their say on budget priorities during a public meeting Thursday night.
The meeting, which is being hosted by Alternatives North, is designed to gather input on spending priorities for upcoming territorial budgets.
Input will be forwarded to MLAs and cabinet members ahead of their next sitting and also be made available online.
To address a projected gap between government revenues and expenditures, the GNWT says it will need to come up with $150 million in combined revenue and expenditure measures over the next five years.
On Thursday, residents are encouraged to suggest new sources of revenue and where expenditures could either be increased or cut.
While the government isn’t holding any public budget meetings, it is inviting people to submit their ideas online.
“Spending more money than we have is not sustainable over the long term and we need to act now to bring government spending into line with revenues,” said territorial finance minister Robert C. McLeod.
“As we prepare to finalize and debate the 2016-2017 budget in the spring, we are asking NWT residents to be part of the solution by telling us about their priorities and suggestions for government spending and revenues.”
NWT residents have until May 20 to provide input on the finance department’s website.
Thursday’s meeting will be held at the Baker Centre, starting at 7 o’clock.
