N.S. budget highlights

Here are the highlights of Friday's Nova Scotia budget:

Expenditures at $7.9 billion; surplus of $118.4 million — $44 million higher than forecast.
Net debt at $12.4 billion, $20 million lower than forecast for 2007-2008, which the province describes as a significant milestone.
No tax increase and no program cuts.
Province to opt in to the federal government's new equalization formula, which will generate $79 million in additional revenue this year. But the province will have to abandon its offshore energy accord with Ottawa for at least this fiscal year.
Most user fees and government charges to increase by 6.8 per cent, effective April 1, generating $9.3 million for the province.
Tobacco prices to increase one cent per cigarette or the equivalent of $2 per carton.
Aviation fuel taxes to increase from 0.9 cents per litre to 2.5 cent per litre.

Renewed optimism in search for missing Halifax sailor: The search for a 68-year-old missing sailor from Halifax resumed Sunday and officials say there is reason to be optimistic after another vessel that made the same trip arrived safely in Bermuda Saturday.
Blood in stolen car spurs hunt for crash injured: Ground search and rescue crews are looking for anyone who might be injured after a stolen car crashed into a car dealership parking lot in Dartmouth, N.S., early Sunday morning.
Cape Breton hunter recovers from accidental shooting: A Cape Breton man is recovering from serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, after being accidentally shot in the arm by a friend while hunting Saturday.
Disgraced N.S. bishop's replacement named: The Roman Catholic Church has appointed a replacement for Bishop Raymond Lahey, of the Diocese of Antigonish, N.S., who is facing child pornography charges.
McCain argues against Afghanistan exit date: U.S. Senator John McCain says military exit dates and exit strategies in Afghanistan should not even be discussed until NATO gets the upper hand in its fight against Taliban militants.

Afghan prisoner transfers halted 'more than one time': Canadian officials have halted the transfer of prisoners to Afghanistan's intelligence service "more than one time," because of the possibility of torture, Canada's chief of defence staff said Sunday.
Baby survives as crash kills 4: RCMP say four Calgary women are dead after a crash south of Calgary that left only a single survivor —a baby that had been strapped into a car seat.
Renewed optimism in search for missing Halifax sailor: The search for a 68-year-old missing sailor from Halifax resumed Sunday and officials say there is reason to be optimistic after another vessel that made the same trip arrived safely in Bermuda Saturday.
Vancouver Island evacuation order lifted: An evacuation order has been lifted for hundreds of south Vancouver Island residents forced from their homes by flooding.
Disgraced N.S. bishop's replacement named: The Roman Catholic Church has appointed a replacement for Bishop Raymond Lahey, of the Diocese of Antigonish, N.S., who is facing child pornography charges.

Top CBCNews.ca Headlines

Afghan prisoner transfers halted 'more than one time': Canadian officials have halted the transfer of prisoners to Afghanistan's intelligence service "more than one time," because of the possibility of torture, Canada's chief of defence staff said Sunday.
Indonesian ferry sinks in storm: Rescuers saved more than 240 people aboard an Indonesian passenger ferry that sank Sunday in rough waters off Sumatra island, but at least 25 people have died, officials said.
Iranian forces practise defending nuke sites: Iran on Sunday began large-scale air defence war games aimed at protecting the country's nuclear facilities against any possible attack, state television reported.
Baby survives as crash kills 4: RCMP say four Calgary women are dead after a crash south of Calgary that left only a single survivor —a baby that had been strapped into a car seat.
Plaskett double winner at Canadian Folk Music Awards: Joel Plaskett's triple album Three earned the Halifax singer-songwriter a double win at the Canadian Folk Music Awards on Saturday.