Minister: Canada's budget days away

OTTAWA, May 25 (UPI) -- Canada's finance minister said Wednesday in Ottawa he'll give Parliament the same budget June 6 as the one two months ago that led to a federal election.

Minister Jim Flaherty said the Conservative government now has a majority as opposed to late March when three opposition parties voted down the minority government before the budget was even debated.

"While minor tweaks and adjustments will be presented, this will almost exclusively restate all the same commitments made two months ago in the budget, along with some platform commitments," Flaherty said.

The minister said one thing that will be phased out is a $2-per-vote subsidy each federal party receives. Conservatives claim the annual subsidy for political parties is a $27.4-million federal expense that will be phased out over four years, the Globe and Mail said.

Jack Layton, leader of the main opposition, the socialist New Democratic Party, said he opposes phasing out vote subsidies as it "could mean eventually big money (would be) more important in politics. We don't agree with that approach," he said.

Parliament is to resume June 2 for two days of housekeeping chores, such as swearing in new members and returns June 6 to debate the budget.