Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
National

Liberals survive budget confidence vote

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Apr, 2021 12:49 AM
  • Liberals survive budget confidence vote

With the help of the NDP, Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government has survived the last of three confidence votes on its massive budget.

The House of Commons approved Monday the government's general budgetary policy by a vote of 178-157.

Liberals were joined by New Democrat MPs in voting for the budget, in accordance with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's vow not to trigger an election in the midst of a deadly third wave of COVID-19.

Conservative, Bloc Quebecois and Green MPs voted against the budget.

Votes on the budget are considered confidence matters; had all opposition parties voted against it, the government would have fallen, plunging the country into an election.

The government survived two other confidence votes on the budget last week, on Conservative and Bloc Quebecois amendments to the budget motion.

The budget, introduced last week, commits just over $100 billion in new spending to stimulate the economic recovery, on top of an unprecedented, pandemic-induced deficit of $354 billion in the 2020-21 fiscal year.

The government must eventually introduce a budget implementation bill, which will also be a matter of confidence.

Prime Minister Trudeau last week insisted the big-spending budget is not a launching pad for an election. He would not rule out an election this year, noting that he leads a minority government and saying it will be "up to Parliament to decide when the election is."

While that sounded like Trudeau doesn't intend to pull the plug himself on his government, it didn't preclude the possibility that the Liberals could try to orchestrate their defeat at the hands of opposition parties. Nor did it preclude the possibility that Trudeau could at some point claim that a dysfunctional minority Parliament requires him to seek a majority mandate.

Some Liberal insiders believe Trudeau may pull the plug this summer, provided that the pandemic is relatively under control and vaccines are rolling out smoothly.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Fire engulfs unfinished condo in Langley, B.C.

Fire engulfs unfinished condo in Langley, B.C.
The fire broke out at around 9:30 p.m. Monday at the development in Langley's Willoughby neighbourhood, about 45 kilometres east of Vancouver.

Fire engulfs unfinished condo in Langley, B.C.

Budget: Promises you might have missed

Budget: Promises you might have missed
The federal Liberal government’s first budget in more than two years makes big promises on child care, the environment and readying the country’s economy for a post-pandemic rebound.

Budget: Promises you might have missed

Trudeau, Freeland seeking vaccine appointments

Trudeau, Freeland seeking vaccine appointments
Many pharmacies reported in recent days that appointments for people 55 and up were going unfilled, and there was a risk some doses were going to go to waste.

Trudeau, Freeland seeking vaccine appointments

Provinces balk at Liberals' child-care pledge

Provinces balk at Liberals' child-care pledge
Yesterday's federal budget outlined $27.2 billion over five years, starting this fiscal year, in new spending the Liberals want to send to provinces to subsidize daycares.

Provinces balk at Liberals' child-care pledge

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says it happened at about 6:30 p.m. at the Town Centre skate park.

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C

B.C. looks at roadblocks to slow COVID-19 spread

B.C. looks at roadblocks to slow COVID-19 spread
In a statement today, Farnworth says the goal is to discourage recreational travel but there will be no random, individual stops.

B.C. looks at roadblocks to slow COVID-19 spread