Province commits $1.2 billion for COVID-19 response in Budget 2021 Corwyn Friesen, mySteinbach Finance Minister Scott Fielding discussing Budget 2021 announcement. The Manitoba government is budgeting nearly $1.2 billion in the 2021-22 fiscal year to protect Manitobans through COVID-19 and prepare for future pandemic and economic needs. “Our government’s top financial priority over the past year has been to direct critical funding to the front lines of our fight against COVID-19,” said Finance Minister Scott Fielding. “Budget 2021 will outline our immediate priority of protecting Manitobans during the pandemic and chart our path forward to advance Manitoba, post-pandemic. We have dedicated funding to address both our short-term and long-term priorities in health care and economic recovery.”