Executive Summary
- Prime Minister Mark Carney’s budget narrowly passed with a 170-168 vote, allowing the minority Liberal government to avoid a snap election.
- The budget’s passage was secured due to the absence of two Conservative MPs and the delayed votes of two senior party members who cited technical issues.
- Despite official opposition to the budget, sources suggest the Conservative party sought to avoid an election amid unfavorable polling and an upcoming leadership review.
- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the budget after the vote but did not comment on the absences within his caucus that enabled its passage.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority Liberal government narrowly passed its first budget on Monday, averting a potential snap election after several Conservative Members of Parliament were absent or delayed their votes. Despite the Conservative party’s public opposition to the fiscal plan, the budget passed with a vote of 170-168 after the strategic absences ensured the government would not fall on the critical confidence vote.
In a dramatic conclusion to the vote, senior Conservative MPs Andrew Scheer and Scott Reid entered the chamber at the last minute to register their opposition, claiming their electronic voting application had failed. The two MPs, the party’s House leader and caucus chair respectively, cast their ‘nay’ votes only after it was clear the budget would pass, a move which allowed them to officially oppose the bill while ensuring the government’s survival. The Speaker permitted their late votes.
The passage was further secured by the absence of two other Conservative MPs. Matt Jeneroux, who recently announced his intention to resign, was absent for the vote. His colleague, MP Shannon Stubbs, was on medical leave following jaw surgery, which her office stated prevented her from using the facial recognition software required for remote voting.
Political sources suggest that while the Conservative party is officially against the budget and its $78-billion deficit, its leadership is not eager for an election. Polling indicates Prime Minister Carney holds a lead over Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is also reportedly focused on an upcoming party leadership review in January.
Following the vote, Poilievre stated on social media that “Conservatives voted no tonight on this costly credit card budget,” without mentioning the members who did not vote. In contrast, Government House Leader Steve MacKinnon declared that “the minority Parliament is working,” and Prime Minister Carney called it “a good day for Canadians.”