Community stakeholders had the chance to highlight some of their budget priorities for the 2020 federal budget with Minister Mona Fortier this week.
Fortier sat down with local mayors along with representatives from the automotive, education, workforce and poverty reduction fields to discuss priorities moving forward.
"One that I've heard loud and clear is how do we continue to protect the auto industry and continue at the same time to diversify the economy and also protect the environment," said Fortier.
Fortier reassured stakeholders that the federal government wants to play a role in supporting the auto sector.
"Our objective is to protect those jobs and also make sure that we make sure that we protect the industry and with the opportunity of really receiving what are those solutions, the federal government wants to be a part of the solution," said Fortier.
This was the first of many roundtable discussions to be held across the country prior to the creation of the 2020 federal budget.