The MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Bill Walker hosted the province's finance minister in Owen Sound Tuesday for public budget consultations.
Rod Phillips said there is a lot to balance especially when the province is paying $13 billion in interest payments.
"Our fourth biggest expense is interest, $13 billion, just after social services, education and health care," said Phillips. "So they know we have to find a way to do all of this responsibly."
Debt reduction, infrastructure, health and education are the key pillars in the on-going consultations for the provincial budget. Phillips says he's hearing a lot of similarities between rural and urban areas.
"We have a plan to balance the budget in five years," said Philips. "Some people wanted it done faster but we have to make sure that there's money for the important things like infrastructure and hospitals. And we also put some money back into people's pockets."
Phillips says the government has put $3 billion back into the pockets of Ontarians because life is expensive.
In the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound riding, MPP Bill Walker said infrastructure seems to be one of the biggest concerns right now.
"We have so many roads, bridges and culverts," said Walker. "What we have to do is be prudent, we have to be balanced, we have to have a plan and I believe our government is tackling that in the right manner."
The province is also urging people to share their ideas through the ontario.ca website.
Consultations will end on February 11.
