Local residents had a chance to bend the Minister of Finances' ear Wednesday in Winkler.

MLA Cameron Friesen held a pre-budget town hall meeting to hear local concerns.

While the provincial government has made a number of reforms in health spending in an eight year plan to bring the budget back to black, many applauded the fiscal constraint.

However, others wondered if more could be done to tackle debt.

 

"You've got to go faster in reducing the deficit," one resident said. "Manitobans have to understand, we can't afford all the programs we want."

Friesen cautioned their eight year pace to balance the budget was strategic to avoid shocking voters with too much change at once.

"Change is hard," Friesen said, adding while they could post a surplus, "we wouldn't be here very long."

Instead, he says the key is making wise investment.

 

The provincial government originally projected a $911 million deficit and came in at $764 million, the first time since 2003 the province hasn't overspent their budget.

Others advocated for change in education, to provide more opportunities for rural students who are forced to live away from home to attend post-secondary education.

The federal government's incoming legalization of marijuana was also a concern, with some suggesting usage of the drug will increase.

One teacher suggested, while many students understand smoking cigarettes is harmful to their health, many believe marijuana is healthy.

Still others warned of the potential danger to Manitoba roads.

"It's bringing another hazard on the road, it doesn't make sense to me," one resident said.