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Dan Kelly and Darren Calabrese

the Canadian Federation Independent Business: But following a long winter, the head of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is approaching Tuesday election-year budget with his hopes somewhat in check. "Things were trucking on really well, we were certainly thinking very positively about some of our requests — some of our tax-reduction requests in particular," Kelly said in an interview. "But then, of course, that was before Christmas, according to Winnipeg Free Press. So, then when oil prices started to plummet, then a few big question marks started to cloud the otherwise rosy picture." Only about six months ago, the Harper government surplus kitty for budget day goodies in the 2015-16 fiscal plan was said to have swelled to $6.5 billion, Kelly said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese OTTAWA - As last autumn colours were setting in, veteran Ottawa lobbyist Dan Kelly was confident the spring would produce a federal budget surplus with ample room for announcements. Cabinet ministers who had waited years for a balanced budget were salivating at the thought of being able to spend money for once. First, the Conservatives unveiled their long-promised family tax-and-benefit package, a grab bag of measures expected to carve $4.6 billion in revenue out of public coffers. By October, however, everything started to change. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.