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The federal budget: a balancing act

Watch: Eric Sorensen takes a look at what we know will be in the federal budget, what we expect to be announced, and what questions remain.

Tuesday is budget day on Parliament Hill, when Finance Minister Joe Oliver will table his belated 2015-16 budget.

“It will be a balanced budget, just as we promised,” the minister said when he announced the date. “A budget focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.”

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Despite the promise to balance the books, Oliver didn’t say exactly how big the surplus might be, nor would he divulge any details of the budget.

However, the Conservatives have in recent months been trotting out some grants and tax breaks Canadians can expect to see in the April 21 budget, including income splitting, a beefed up Universal Child Care Benefit, and a doubling of the child fitness tax credit.

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Whether other pledges—an adult fitness tax credit and doubling the ceiling for Tax Free Savings Account contributions to $10,000 per year—will be included is unknown.

It’s also unclear whether municipalities will see the $1 billion a year for infrastructure they’ve requested.

On The West Block this Sunday Eric Sorensen will talk to Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre and former deputy finance minister Scott Clark about whether a balanced budget is the best thing for the Canadian economy.

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