A crucial budget vote on Monday was narrowly won by the ruling Liberal Party government, averting a catastrophic Christmas Federal election. With 170 MPs in favor and 168 against, the vote to approve the federal budget was won by a mere two votes. In the 543-member House of Commons, two members of the opposition Conservatives and the New Democratic Party (NDP) abstained, allowing Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to survive. The budget received support from the lone Green Party MP and was approved by all 170 members of the ruling party who were present. As is customary, the Speaker—a Liberal MP—did not take part, but in the event of a tie, he would have cast the final vote. This was similar to a vote of confidence.One of the two Conservatives has already declared his intention to leave the House, while the other was missing due to illness. Although the NDP did not support the budget, its interim leader, Don Davies, stated in a statement that the party had "decided to put the interests of our country first, to vote against the budget but to help prevent an election" because it was "clear that Canadians do not want an election right now."
"The House of Commons has voted to pass Budget 2025 tonight," Carney said in a statement. It's time to collaborate in order to carry out this strategy, safeguard our communities, provide Canadians with new opportunities, and strengthen Canada.After leaving for the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, Carney will go to Johannesburg for the G20 leaders' summit, where he is anticipated to see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The vote did, however, reveal the weakness of the minority government, which will be subject to similar confidence tests the next year. A minority government typically lasts 18 months, and there is a good chance that a midterm election will be held the following year.