REGINA — Saskatchewan’s year-end financial report says the province's deficit has shrunk to $1.13 billion.

The deficit had originally been forecast to be about $2.4 billion.

Finance Minister Donna Harpauer says Saskatchewan is in a much better fiscal situation than anticipated as the province prepares to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The province says that all revenue categories except taxation brought in more money than expected. 

Transfers from the federal government to help fight COVID-19 also helped.

And despite significant health expenses, the province says it spent less overall than it had expected, particularly since agriculture insurance claims were low. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2021.

The Canadian Press