Harpauer attributed the improved final numbers to well-performing revenue categories and lower-than-budgeted agriculture, environment and education expenses. Revenue for the 2020-21 year is up $875 million from projection, or 6.4 per cent. for a total of $14.52 billion. All categories performed better than anticipated, said Harpauer, with the exception of taxation. “We’ve had much stronger returns on investments, in particular from SGI and the Workers’ Compensation Board,” said Harpauer. COVID regulations caused a decline in economic activity, said Harpauer’s report, and a deterioration in corporation income and individual income taxes. Two transfers of COVID-19 funding from the federal government offset these decreases and aided provincial revenue. Consumption taxes also increased due to high prices and demand in industries like oil, natural gas and forestry and the Government Business Enterprises also drew a notable increase in net income.