The Federal Finance Committee is in Portage la Prairie today.  Portage-Lisgar MP Brian Pallister chairs the committee, he says today's panel is all about making recommendations for the upcoming federal budget.  Pallister says Portage is providing diverse input on how the government should invest its money with presentations from municipal organizations, the Canadian Mental Health Association as well as academic institutions. 
He says how the federal government can address challenges facing Aboriginal people, post secondary education investments and infrastructure investments have all been consistent concerns across the nation.  The MP is pleased with the amount of interest area residents are showing in how the federal government will use its budget money.