Parliament Hill in Ottawa is shown on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
January 27, 2014 - 7:21 AM
OTTAWA - The federal Conservatives say they'll focus on the economy and the upcoming budget as they return to work in Ottawa after a six-week break.
Government House Leader Peter Van Loan says the government will concentrate on creating jobs and on consumer- and justice-oriented legislation, such as a publicly accessible database of high-risk child predators.
He repeated a promise to deliver a balanced budget next year, saying the yet-to-be-released spending plan will be the cornerstone of the government's agenda in the coming weeks and months.
The Conservatives are expected to take every opportunity to highlight their economic prowess in advance of the budget, which could be introduced by mid-February.
Van Loan wouldn't talk about what cuts are on their way to slay the deficit and stayed away from answering questions about how a low dollar may improve the economy, but raise prices for consumers.
While the Conservatives want to keep the economy front and centre, the NDP and the Liberals say they will keep the Senate scandals in the forefront.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014