Prime Minister Mark Carney has narrowly avoided a Christmastime election after MPs passed his first federal budget in a razor-thin vote Monday. The minority Liberal government secured 170 votes in favour, including support from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, while 168 MPs voted against the financial plan.
The crucial difference came from four MPs who chose to abstain, lowering the number of votes the Liberals needed to win. NDP MPs Lori Idlout and Gord Johns, along with Conservative MPs Shannon Stubbs and Matt Jeneroux, did not cast ballots in the closely watched decision.
Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia did not have to break a tie, as the vote was decided without his involvement.
The budget was considered a confidence matter, meaning a defeat would likely have forced the Carney government to resign and sent Canadians to the polls. Instead, the tight result gives the Liberals more time to govern during a period of political uncertainty.
Speaking with media after the vote, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that what matters today is that parliamentarians who voted in favour put Canadians first.
“Every day is a good day to fight for Canadians,” he concluded.
