Chilliwack MLA John Les has less than two months to sort through public input and put forth recommendations for next year's budget in his new role as head of the parliamentary finance committee.

Les is up for the challenge.

"I have a fair bit of experience," he said in an interview with The Progress. "I've been involved in two levels of government for a quarter of a century now and I've watched the budget-making process at a number of levels. I am a keen student in government finance."

Les was elected, last week, by fellow MLAs, to chair the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. The committee sorts through public input and then makes recommendations to the Finance Minister to develop the 2010-11 budget.

MLAs in the past have had six months to do the job, but because of this year's provincial election, Les has less than two months.

Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz, who worked alongside Les for three years on counsel when he was still mayor, said he's perfect for the job.

"He's very good at working with budgets and balancing the needs of our communities," she said.

Les has served as Solicitor General and Minister of Small Business and Economic Development. He's served on the Government Caucus Committee on Economy and Government Operations, as well as the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.

(Les resigned from cabinet two years ago after he learned he was part of an RCMP investigation into land deals that had occurred while he was mayor. That investigation is continuing.)

And during his 13 years as mayor, Les was elected chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District multiple times, and was a trustee of the Municipal Finance Authority of B.C.

"I have always had a great interest in economics and government finance issues," said Les. "I am very pleased to play an integral role in developing the budget for the upcoming year."

Les expects to hear a lot of criticism about the incoming HST, and while he said it won't go away, he hoped that the public would provide constructive input on how best to make the new tax workable for everyone.

He does face some challenges, with the current state of the economy, in prioritizing what areas need funds most.

Mayor Sharon Gaetz hopes municipal governments will factor high on the list.

Gaetz wants the next budget to recognize that while municipal governments must look after local roads, dikes and sewers, they are not able to collect taxes for such work. As such, she hopes the provincial government will provide fair funding through the budget.

"I hope in their deliberations, they will keep in mind that local governments only get eight cents out of every tax dollar, while the other governments share the remaining 92 cents – and yet, we own 50 per cent of all infrastructure," Gaetz said.

"I hope they will remember that it is difficult for us when they continually download more responsibilities onto us without providing funding to carry out their wishes."

Public consultation meetings will only be held in Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, Kelowna, Kamloops, Smithers and Prince George, and video conference meetings will be held in Courtney, Cranbrook and Dawson Creek.

As a result, Les said the committee will have to rely heavily on email and written submissions for the majority of public input.

For more information, visit the website at www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations, or send an email to financecommittee@leg.bc.ca.

The consultation process closes on Oct. 23. The committee report will be completed and sent to the Finance Minister by Nov. 15.

kbartel@theprogress.com