Federal budget 2015: Traditions vs. rules

Finance Minister Joe Oliver is set to deliver his long-awaited budget on Tuesday in Ottawa.

While it's a centrepiece of fiscal policy, the budget's annual unveiling is steeped in strange traditions, some of which have mysterious origins.

CBC politics correspondent James Fitz-Morris offers some interesting things to know before the budget is released.

Budget coverage Tuesday

CBC News will have full coverage of Finance Minister Joe Oliver's budget on Tuesday, starting with a special Power & Politics with Evan Solomon at 2 p.m. ET on CBC News Network and streaming live on CBCnews.ca.

Join a live pre-budget chat on CBCnews.ca at 3 p.m. ET, then tune in to CBC News' budget special with Peter Mansbridge on CBC Television and CBC News Network at 4 p.m. ET, or watch a livestream of Joe Oliver's full budget speech on cbcnews.ca. CBC Radio will also have special coverage starting at 4 p.m. ET.

Our live chat continues at cbcnews.ca at 5 p.m. ET, while Power & Politics and The Exchange with Amanda Lang offer analysis and reaction on CBC News Network, followed by a complete wrap up on The National at 9 p.m. ET.