Merritt was the first stop on Finance Minister Michael de Jong’s week-long tour of the province to seek input from British Columbians on the upcoming 2014 provincial budget.

“This is mostly about soliciting some feedback and opinions around the upcoming budget that I’m in the midst of preparing now,” de Jong said.

De Jong visited with the Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 15, where he made a presentation and took questions from attendees at the Culture Club.

“What they conveyed to me was a clear desire on the part of Merritt to participate in and benefit from the economic growth that’s taking place and about to take place in British Columbia,” de Jong said.

Two main points de Jong stressed at his meeting in Merritt were B.C.’s current fiscal state — a balanced budget with a modest surplus — and that the government continues to enjoy a triple-A credit rating.

De Jong said he also wanted to hear from the chamber of commerce as to how they would allocate the surpluses B.C. is beginning to see.

He said they stressed that when the province does spend, they should do so on infrastructure that can help a community such as Merritt attract more investment and thus create more jobs, de Jong said.

Overall, de Jong said he detected a general appreciation for the fiscal situation in B.C. at his stops across the province.

“In the case of Merritt, I think there’s a realization that the community is so ideally situated,” de Jong said.

De Jong also made stops in Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Prince George and Burnaby.

He said the reason for taking the tour was being able to gather advice and information in a direct way.

“There’s never a substitute for hearing directly from people,” de Jong said.

De Jong’s budget conversation across the province included questions on how to keep costs affordable for families, provide new services and reduce taxpayer-supported debt. It also asked what services British Columbians want the government to continue as well as what the province shouldn’t do or do differently, according to a Ministry of Finance press release.

De Jong said during his tour he heard people stress a strong emphasis should be placed on field and vocational training in terms of programs people would like to see the government continue.