Federal budget comes at good time in Que. election

Jean Charest is looking forward to Monday's federal budget, which promises to drop millions of dollars into provincial coffers just in time for the Quebec election on March 26.

But the Liberal premier bristles at the suggestion the money might be just the thing to rescue his struggling campaign for re-election.

"This just didn't come out of the blue," Charest told reporters Thursday.

"This isn't an issue that just appeared. For years, we've been working on this issue. We've worked hard to convince the federal parties that this was an issue."

Charest expects the federal government to shift a substantial sum to Quebec but he's not expecting a final solution.

"I'm confident there will be some movement," he said. "I don't expect Mr. Harper to solve everything in a day, but I expect him to move on these issues because it would be the right thing to do for Quebec and Canada."

Charest's government refuses to put a number on the so-called fiscal gap the difference between the province's fiscal capacities andits fiscal responsibilities. But the Bloc Qubcois has said Quebec alone needs $3.9 billion a year.

The budget is expected to have at least $3.5 billion for all provinces.