A potential winter election has been avoided.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget narrowly passed in the House of Commons on Monday evening.
The final tally was 170 in favour to 168 against.
Four MPs, two New Democrats and two Conservatives, abstained.
Budget votes are considered confidence motions, and defeat would have led to an election just six months after Carney’s government took power.
The NDP’s Interim leader, Don Davies, says they proposed amendments to the Liberals that would have gained their support for the budget, but had not received a response from the ruling party by the time the vote came.
“So, we have decided to put the interests of our country first, to vote against the budget, but to help prevent an election,” says Davies.
“Canada is facing instability and overlapping crises. In these challenging times, we must put our country’s well-being first above partisan interests.”
During Question Period, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre argued the budget would only put the country further in debt, while providing little to no help for the average Canadian with the high cost of living.
“This Prime Minister is using his deficit budget as a credit card with no limits and therefore surges in housing, groceries and taxes,” says Poilievre.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne responded by calling the budget a generational investment budget that will result in an improved economy, more jobs and lower inflation.
“We’re going to invest to protect our sovereignty. We’re going to empower Canadians,” says Carney.
“We’re going to grow this economy the second fastest rate in the G7 because we believe in Canada.”
