Manitoba finance minister says April 7 budget will focus on pandemic and recovery

The Manitoba government plans to deliver its annual budget on April 7.

Finance Minister Scott Fielding says the fiscal plan will focus on protecting people during the COVID-19 pandemic and charting a recovery as the pandemic subsides.

He says the budget will keep in mind that other COVID-19 waves could come or new variants might emerge.

1:04 Winnipeg’s 2021 budget prioritizes growth during the COVID-19 pandemic

Fielding also says the government will live up to its promise announced in the throne speech last fall to start phasing out the education tax on property.

That tax currently costs Manitobans about $830 million a year.

The province is forecasting a $2-billion deficit for the current fiscal year, which ends in three weeks.