The province says it has approved a $710-million special warrant to tackle staffing issues in the health-care system.

Finance Minister Adrien Sala blamed the special warrant on the former Progressive Conservative government, which he said failed to account for collective bargaining agreements in Manitoba's health system, as well as leaving his NDP government with a $1.6-billion deficit, in a Tuesday news release.

Staffing initiatives not included in the province's contingency fund and collective agreements that were unbudgeted led to the $710-million special warrant for Manitoba's health system, the province said in the release.

Special warrants are needed when public service funds have not been accounted for but are "required for the public good," according to the release.