Finance Minister Charles Sousa is asked how to prevent budget submissions being railroaded--think #BoatyMcBoatface #onpoli pic.twitter.com/kSDobUW2eo
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) November 21, 2016
Ontario is proposing to include several crowd-sourced ideas in its next budget, after the Liberal government was criticized for "sham" public consultations last year.
Finance Minister Charles Sousa says the online consultation tool Budget Talks is being expanded this year, with a pledge that the budget will include up to eight of the ideas submitted there at a total cost of up to $3 million.
The ideas have to be for a pilot project, study, event or digital service, be within the scope of the province to deliver, fit into one of eight subject areas listed on the website, and require a one-time investment of no more than $1 million.
Last year the initial translation of preliminary budget drafts began before the period of public input ended, which prompted the opposition to decry the consultations as a ``sham'' and a ``charade.''
One of the most popular ideas online for much of that consultation period was to stop funding Catholic schools.
Sousa said last year that wouldn't happen, and signalled this year that he still won't be considering that idea if it gets submitted.
You can pitch your idea by CLICKING HERE.
with a file from Siobhan Morris