Finance Minister Scott Fielding says the funds being collected were being used to "understate the size of the previous government’s deficits."

Starting in 2020, the Government of Manitoba claims they will be using the funds for its "intended purpose" and invest in special projects.

“We discovered the previous government was collecting money from Manitobans into fake funds, yet the fees paid were not fully being used for their intended purpose,” said Fielding.  “Funds were used to understate the size of the previous government’s deficits, making them look even smaller than they actually were.

The Government of Manitoba says they are investing the money back into the 17 original funds.

Some of the groups set to receive the special funding include Legal Aid, the Farm Machinery and Equipment Fund, and the Workplace Safety and Public Education Fund.

Fielding also notes that they will be making "a one-time, $5-million investment in road preservation and maintenance" this year using the Trucking Productivity Improvement Fund.

"In the weeks ahead, Manitobans will learn other steps we are taking to make our provincial budget process more transparent and consistent," the minister adds.

The Government of Manitoba says that going forward, they will be using the funds by the end of each fiscal year of its "intended purpose."