Manitoba budget to be presented in March

Manitobans will find out what's in the province's 2018 budget when the legislature sits next month.

Finance Minister Cameron Friesen says he'll present the province's 2018 budget on March 12.

"I look forward to updating Manitobans on the tremendous progress we have made and the next steps we will take to make Manitoba the most improved province in Canada," Friesensaid in a news release Friday. "It's our priority to keep more money in the pockets of Manitobans and build a brighter future for all of us."

The 2018 budget will "make important progress on expenditure management," Friesen said in the release,touting a $13-million drop in the province's forecast summary deficit.

• Manitoba projects modest reduction in pool of year-end red ink

The second-quarter report, released in December, pegged the summary budget deficit which includes Crown corporations, schools and health authorities at $827 million, down from the $840-million deficit projected in the government's 2017 budget.

Thesame reportshowedno change in the provincial projection of a $779-million deficit for the 2017-18 fiscal year for core government operations.

The 2018 budget will be the third presented since Brian Pallister's government took power in 2016.