Manitoba's finance minister was in Altona on Wednesday to host a public consultation meeting on the 2020 provincial budget.

Scott Fielding took some time to listen to some of the concerns from local residents and community leaders.

Representatives from the Kiddie Sunshine Centre and Blue Sky Opportunities talked about the struggles both operations are having in attracting and retaining qualified staff due to inadequate provincial funding, which means they cannot offer completive wages.

Fielding says the province has taken a few steps to address those some of those funding concerns.

"We have put $13 million dollars more for adults with intellectual disability agencies which is important. We have also developed a system that evaluates where the money is going...making sure that money is going in the right places to support more individuals. For the child care centres, we've created a lot more spaces, we've also created programs in which vulnerable people will be getting supports and we've heard clearly that wages are a part of it and that funding needs to rise."

Fielding says the Pallister government is slowly digging Manitoba out of the financial hole that was left by the previous NDP government. He suggested once they can attain fiscal balance, which should happen in 2022, there will be more revenue available to address some of these funding concerns.

Fielding expects the budget consultation process will hear from about 17,000 Manitobans by the time it wraps up next week.