Liberal budget clears Commons by two votes preventing winter election

The House of Commons has passed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget in a crucial vote that propped up the minority Liberal government and kept Canadians from heading back to the polls this winter.

Carney was elected in spring but only secured a minority government that could have fallen over the vote, but the budget motion passed by a nail-biting margin, 170 to 168.

Read more:

• Federal budget forecasts $78B deficit as Liberals shift spending to capital projects
• Carney’s first budget gets mixed marks from Saskatchewan economics professor
• 2027 Grey Cup expected to bring major economic boost to Sask.

Carney was elected in the spring on a campaign to end U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs war, but only secured a minority government mandate — leaving the Liberals scrambling to secure support for the budget for weeks.

Several opposition MPs did not vote, which enabled the motion to pass in the House of Commons Monday evening.

In a dramatic turn of events just hours before the vote, Carney won Green Party Leader Elizabeth May’s support after the prime minister said he is committed to Canada meeting its Paris Accord climate commitments.

Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont crossed the floor earlier in the month from the Conservative benches to join the government side, securing the Liberals another House vote.

After the vote, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in a social media post on X that the budget would push up the cost of living for all Canadians.

— with files from CJME News

Read more:

• Federal budget forecasts $78B deficit as Liberals shift spending to capital projects
• Carney’s first budget gets mixed marks from Saskatchewan economics professor
• 2027 Grey Cup expected to bring major economic boost to Sask.