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Highlights from the federal budget tabled Thursday by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty:

Revenues for 2013-14 forecast at $263.9 billion, spending at $282.6 billion, deficit at $18.7 billion.

Deficit projected to drop to $6.6 billion in 2014-15 and become an $800-million surplus in 2015-16.

Canada Job Grant program will be negotiated with provinces by next year to replace existing $500-million labour market agreements.

Measures will be introduced to improve skills training for the disabled.

New programs will promote apprenticeship.

Two-year extension of an accelerated capital cost allowance to help manufacturers.

Infrastructure spending of $47 billion over 10 years, starting next year.

An improved tax break for families adopting children.

$100 million over two years to support housing construction in Nunavut.

Special tax break for first-time charitable donations to encourage young people to give.

End to tariffs on baby clothes and sports gear, including skates, hockey sticks, skis and golf clubs.

Canadian International Development Agency to be merged with Foreign Affairs.

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MORE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: The Post‘s Scott Stinson combs through the 2013 federal budget so you don’t have to. Cheaper snowboards, dude The government is eliminating import tariffs on sporting goods — as first reported on Wednesday in the National Post — and baby clothes. This should mean reduced prices on everything from hockey equipment to skis to golf clubs, although it is unclear at what point an item of clothing ceases to be for a “baby” and is instead for a toddler. Eighteen months of age? 12 months? Anyway, it’s further evidence that the Harper government is targeting the suburban-arena-going-parent demographic. Particularly the fertile ones. But can they leap buildings in a single bound? To encourage increased charitable donations, Ottawa has created the First-Time Donor’s Super Credit — which supplements existing charitable tax credits to give new donors an additional 25% tax credit, up to $1,000 of donations. Now you can be a SUPER DONOR. Take this job and do it Details are fuzzy, but the government promises to follow up on already announced plans to reform the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure Canadians are considered for available jobs. Basically, it’s intended to ensure employers try harder to recruit unemployed Canadians before throwing up their hands and applying to bring someone from abroad to do it. Hide the jewels under the mattress The cost to maintain a safety-deposit box has been until now tax-deductible because it was deemed part of the cost of earning a living. No longer. Now it’s just a box you use for stashing stuff, so you can’t deduct it. We’re guessing that most people who have large amounts of money in a safety-deposit box don’t tell the government about it anyway. Subsidies for all There’s no better example of how the country’s economic balance has shifted in recent years than the fact that the government is renewing the funding of the federal economic development agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) for five years at a cost of $920-million. Pork-barreling: not just for the small provinces anymore. Take that, David Suzuki The budget proposes $57.5-million over five years to support the country’s aquaculture — fish farm — sector. We know of certain environmentalists who will not be pleased. A bridge not too far Renewing an old pledge, the government says it will spend up to $124.9-million to build a temporary bridge-causeway over the St. Lawrence during the construction of the permanent, new bridge that will replace Montreal’s Champlain Bridge. The new structure does not have a name, though one suspects Economic Action Plan Bridge will be on the short list. Still on the rails Though VIA Rail was thought to be lined up for a whacking, the budget only says it will get $54.7-million to support operations and investment and $58.2-million to maintain access to remote communities. The Harper government offers no guarantee the trains will run on time. Sprucing up the office The budget promises “further support” for the rehabilitation of Ottawa’s Parliament Buildings, though it oddly does not attach a price tag to the endeavour. So you can assume that will cost a lot. Forecasting a windfall Environment Canada will receive $248-million over five years for new equipment. “Canadians will benefit from more timely, accurate forecasts,” the budget says. Doesn’t everyone just check the weather on their phones now? Crackdown on spittoons The budget will increase the excise duty that applies to “manufactured” tobacco, which includes that used in roll-your-own, and in chewing tobacco. It’s a jump of 84%. Bad news for old-timey gunslingers. Take that, Manulife A budget item promises to “Protect Vulnerable Canadians from Predatory Lending.” Judging by Jim Flaherty’s recent decisions, that includes financial institutions that offer discounted mortgage rates. Beyond the igloo Nunavut will receive $100-million over two years to build 250 housing units. That’s $400,000 per unit. Swanky. In memoriam The Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France will receive $5-million for the construction of a permanent visitors’ centre. The timing is expected to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War in 2014. Bieber not included “Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes funding of $8-million to help support the restoration and revitalization of Massey Hall.” Why the downtown Toronto venue and not others? Not sure. EAP 2013 supports smooth jazz! A gentle nudge The Conservatives have avoided trampling on the Quebec asbestos industry, but have earmarked $50-million to support the “economic diversification” of the two towns that were reliant on it. They might want to start by renaming the town called Asbestos. Philatelist news “Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes to dedicate all revenues collected from the Salmon Conservation Stamp to the Pacific Salmon Foundation.” OK, then. Glad that’s sorted. And justice for all The budget promises $36-million for First Nations and Inuit policing, which includes $3-million for 10 additional police officers “to focus on contraband tobacco.” Hard to imagine 10 more bodies will be enough to tip the scales on that battle. But he still gets the nice house Purchases made for the use of the Governor General have been exempt from GST and HST, although the G-G voluntarily pays the sales taxes on his personal purchases. Beginning in June, the exemption will end, but the taxes can still be recovered “in the same way as federal departments.” So it’s a wash for the Queen.– Scott Stinson, National Post