Some highlights from Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's 2014 federal budget

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

A copy of the federal budget is held in the media lock-up prior to tabling of the budget in Ottawa on Tuesday, February 11, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Some highlights of the federal budget delivered Tuesday by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty:

— The budget is close to balance, with a $2.9-billion deficit and a $3-billion contingency fund.

— Flaherty forecasts revenues of $276.3 billion and expenditures of $279.2 billion.

— The government makes clear it will balance the budget next year by cutting program spending and reining in public service compensation costs.

— The budget proposes to make retired federal public servants pay half the costs of their health-care plan, up from a quarter now. This would raise annual payments for a retired individual to $550 from $261.

— Adopting families will get a bigger tax break for expenses.

— Higher excise taxes on tobacco will raise the price of a carton of 200 cigarettes by $4 and essentially end the discount on smokes sold at duty-free stores, by raising taxes there by $6 a carton. The increase will reap government $685 million in 2014-15.

— Excise taxes on tobacco will be tied to the Consumer Price Index and automatically adjusted every five years.

— The government plans to bring in legislation to deal with unjustified cross-border price discrimination that sees Canadians pay more for goods.

— Charities will be allowed to use computers to run their lotteries, offering major administrative savings.

— World-class amateur athletes will get a break when it comes to calculating their available RRSP room.

— Search and rescue volunteers will get a tax credit similar to the one extended to volunteer firefighters in 2011.

— Taxpayers will no longer have to apply for a GST-HST credit on their tax return. The Canada Revenue Agency will make the calculation automatically.