Budget 2014: Highlights - Action News
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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 and full text of the budget document.

Jim Flaherty budget speech

11 years ago
Duration 27:40
Finance minister tables his 2014 federal budget with a speech in the House of Commons

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 time.
  • Creation of a DNA-based missing persons index.

Mobile users, read the budget document here