Manitoba provincial budget to be tabled on April 7

Manitoba's 2021 budget will be released on April 7, Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced on Wednesday.

"We trulythink that this budget will focus in on protecting Manitobans from the impacts of COVID-19and really charting a road map for future economic recovery once we're through the pandemic," Fielding told reporters after question period.

In the province's last fiscal update, released in December, the province forecasta deficit of $2.048 billion by the end of March, down from the previously forecast$2.938 billion in September.

Fielding doesn't anticipate the third term forecast, which is anticipated in the next few weeks, todeviate much from that.

"I think we're probably on track for a $2 billion deficit, but we'll see by year end how the financials end up," he said.

Fielding says the provinceis alsoprojecting a 4.3 per cent increase in gross domestic product.

Nearly 51,000 Manitobans participated in the province's virtual budget consultation processan increase of 178 per cent from 2020.

The province held telephone town halls, virtual meetings, an online survey and invited people to submit email and written notes.

Of those that responded to an online survey, 73 per cent saidimproving health care was their top priority in the budget, and 57 per cent said getting the COVID-19 vaccine to all Manitobans is the highest priority area.

Fielding indicated those things could be addressed when the budget is tabled.

"We want to protect Manitobans from the impacts of COVID-19 and wealso want to provide supports for individuals and businesses to make surethey can grow and prosper," he said.

"I think those were two focal pointswe've had throughout the year, and I wouldn't be surprised if those were focal points of the budget 2021."