"We were able to fulfil the major increase in spending on roads, we had disasters last year, we increased the funding for wait lists and we still were able to put money into the rainy day fund," said [Gary Doer].

Final public account documents for the 2006-07 year are expected next month, but Doer says preliminary estimates of Manitoba's 2007 finances show the rainy day fund had grown to more than $600 million as of March 31, 2007.

"We're optimistic about the economic future but we have erred on the side of putting more money into the rainy day fund to partially protect us against any buffeting in the economy," said Doer.