Yahoo Finance Budget 2014: Highlights
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has tabled his 2014 federal budget in the House of Commons. Here is a look at some of the budget's main points:
No major tax cuts, spending falls for 3rd year in a row.
$2.9 billion deficit this year, $6.4 billion surplus next year (2015-16).
New Canada Job Grant starts April 1, with or without agreement of the provinces and territories.
Retired public sector workers will pay twice as much for voluntary medical benefits.
$500 million over 2 years to an Automotive Innovation Fund for research and development.
$1.5 billion over 10 years for a Canada First Research Excellence Fund to fund research at post-secondary institutions.
$391.5 million over 5 years for highways, bridges, dams in National Parks.
Interest-free loans for apprentices and funding for new internships where skilled workers are needed.
Money for bridges in Windsor and Montreal but details for Building Canada infrastructure fund still to come.
$10 million more over 2 years for snowmobile and recreational trails.
Legislation to cap wholesale domestic wireless roaming costs.
$305 million over 5 years to expand rural high-speed internet.
Legislation promised to tackle cross-border price gaps - but no details.
Tax on cigarettes rises $4 to $21 a carton — a jump of about 50 cents per pack.
Government will bring regulation to Bitcoin, the virtual currency, to ensure it isn't used for money laundering.
Online casinos, charities and amateur sport groups will be scrutinized to prevent links to organized crime and foreign terrorists.
Legislation promised to stop suspended senators from accruing pension.
Creation of a DNA-based missing persons index.
