If shoes could talk Finance Minister Jim Flaherty hopes his are sending a clear, prudent message.

Flaherty bucked the long-held tradition of buying new shoes on the eve of the budget.

Instead he opted to resole his old, black size eights. An indication of what to expect in the budget? You bet, says Flaherty.

"Getting the shoes redone is something I do anyway, but it suits this budget. This is a budget that is prudent. We are spending, but spending in a controlled way given the economic circumstances this year and next year."

And he chose to hold his photo op at the Healthy Feet shoe repair shop close to the heart of the budget creation: in the Department of Finance building.

Owner Khalil Merhi must have been happy about the attention.

Flaherty praised the business as fitting in with Conservative values: a small business run by an entrepreneurial, skilled "newcomer" to Canada (Khalil came to Canada in 1987.)

"Just the kind of business you want to support in Canada," said Flaherty.

Last budget, he also snubbed the new shoe tradition, instead buying a pair of skates for one of his children in Whitby, his home riding.