Federal budget coming March 21

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will present a budget to Parliament on Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m. ET, the minister announced Thursday.

Flaherty said jobs and the economy remain the government's top priority. Previously, he has acknowledged government revenues have been "significantly" affected by the sluggish economy, meaning, there won't likely be any new grandiose projects in the budget.

Instead ,Flaherty is expected to use existing funds for any changes he wants to make — including reshaping a $2-billion-a-year skills training program currently run by the provinces.

Flaherty spoke as he met at his department's offices with a group of student members of CIVIX, a charity that encourages young people to become active and engaged citizens.

Some members of CIVIX had been encourged to participate in a student budget consultation initiative to advise Flaherty on the federal budget.