Pre-budget consultations resume Thursday

The pre-Budget consultations being held by Finance Minister Joan Marie Aylward will resume Thursday with a session in Stephenville at the Holiday Inn, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The roundtable discussions are being held to provide an opportunity for individuals and groups to give their opinions on the direction they would like to see government take in developing its 2003-04 Budget.

Others are scheduled for Corner Brook on February 3, St. John�s on February 4, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Labrador City on February 5.

In addition to these sessions, an electronic town hall is scheduled for February 8 when several communities will be linked with the minister through video and audio conferencing technology provided by Memorial University�s Telemedicine/TETRA facilities.

Media contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Communications, (709) 729-0329

2003 01 29                                         11:45 a.m.