Ernie Steeves, Finance and Treasury Board Minister introduced the 2021-2022 budget. (Photo: Stephanie Sirois) The New Brunswick government is projecting a deficit of $244.8 million in 2021-22 due to increased costs and loss of revenue because of the pandemic. The Finance and Treasury Board released the $10.6-billion budget Tuesday with an emphasis on investment in mental health services and public health care, as well as distance education, small modular nuclear reactors, affordable housing, and an increase to the carbon-emitting products tax as per the federal backstop requirements. “It is not the budget I want to deliver, but it is the budget we need,” said Finance Minister Ernie Steeves told reporters during a news conference ahead of the budget delivery.