OTTAWA — Aiming to quiet critics and please Canadians, Finance Minister Ralph Goodale has tabled a budget packed with tax cuts and plans for billions in new spending.

When Goodale rose in the House of Commons on Wednesday, he had good news on the state of Canada's finances. Trumpeting his government's record of "sound financial management," he said the government's books will be balanced, once again.

"This is the longest unbroken string of surpluses since Confederation," he said, noting the Liberal record of eight-straight budgets in the black. "And we expect it to continue."

In fact, the books are more than balanced; the federal government expects to post a $4-billion "underlying budgetary surplus" next year.

In that context, Goodale's plan promises a broad sweep of tax relief measures.

Low-income earners, for example, will benefit from the move to increase the amount Canadians can earn tax-free from just over $8,000 to $10,000. As a result, finance officials expect approximately 860,000 people to be removed from the tax roll.

Canadians who take advantage of tax-sheltered RRSPs are also promised a break, with a boost in contribution limits to $22,000 by 2009. And those who have money in RRSPs will also have more freedom on how to spend it -- with the immediate elimination of foreign content restrictions.

Businesses of all sizes can also expect a break, as the government begins a five-year plan to phase out the two per cent corporate surtax. The general corporate income tax rate will also be cut in four years, dropping two points to 19 per cent.

In terms of big-ticket spending, Goodale's plan delivers on some long-anticipated spending priorities.

Funding for the health-care deal reached with the premiers is included, as is the often-discussed $5-billion, five-year pledge to kickstart a national daycare program. Canada's military, which has long complained of neglect, is also paid significant attention -- with a $12.8 billion promise that Goodale says amounts to the biggest boost in military spending in 20 years.

Other highlights of the federal budget plan include:

• An additional $3.4 billion in international assistance, in line with United Nations Millennium Development Goals
• Increasing Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits for low-income seniors by $2.7 billion over five years.
• $1 billion for an innovative Clean Fund to further stimulate cost-effective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
• Implementing the pledge to share $5 billion worth of gas tax revenue over the next five years: In 2005-06, the share of the federal gas tax dedicated to cities and communities will be $600 million. By 2009-10, the share will increase to $2 billion, representing 5 cents per litre.
• $4.7 billion over five years, including $1 billion to cut greenhouse gases and $200 million to boost wind energy
• $1 billion to further strengthen Canada's national security
• $735 million over the next five years, in addition to the $700 million over five years for Aboriginal health programs announced in September 2004
• $398 million over five years to help settle and integrate new immigrants to Canada
• $345 million over the next five years for First Nations early learning and child care, special education, and child and family services.
• $340 million over the next five years for First Nations housing on reserves, Aboriginal languages and culture, and the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
• $60 million for the CBC in 2005-06
• $70 million a year to Sport Canada, doubling its ongoing funding to $140 million in 2005-06 from $70 million in 2004-05.

While the budget appears to contain plenty of new spending, a closer look reveals that much of it is spread out over the magic timeframe of five years, with much of the big spending on the distant horizon. Goodale explains that its the scope of the projects that has dictated taking a longer than usual view.

"For the sake of completeness and transparency, and given that many of the Government's newest and largest program obligations (like those enshrined in federal-provincial and territorial agreements) represent commitments of five years or longer, the framework for this budget is in fact five years, rather than the usual two."

While the longer view allows the Liberal minority to announce spending commitments that would traditionally be considered too far in the future, it also means the government has promised virtually all it can.

The result is an election-style budget filled with plenty of promises of new spending. But it also means the government has now laid all of its cards on the table.

Nevertheless, CTV's Mike Duffy says the budget, despite its broad scope, contains "nothing radical."

"This is a little like Jello," Duffy told CTV.ca. "It's good for you, inoffensive and there's nothing here that seems to be very controversial."

"In the coming days, groups will more closely examine the details... Generally, this is a very careful budget designed to put something in the window that appeals to every group in the country."

For the Liberals, who are seeking to become the first minority government in more than 30 years to successfully push a federal budget through Parliament, an all-round appealing document is precisely what they planned.

In that light, Duffy says this budget is well positioned to gain the approval of the Commons.

"I suspect that what we've seen so far, the Opposition will likely give it a passing grade."