Close X
Friday, November 29, 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

Ambassador sees new leverage in lumber dispute

Ambassador sees new leverage in lumber dispute
Kirsten Hillman told a British Columbia forest industry conference that high lumber prices could affect U.S. President Joe Biden's ability to fulfil his pandemic recovery goals, which include more affordable, environmentally friendly housing.

Ambassador sees new leverage in lumber dispute

Woman and 5 year old child badly hurt in crash: New Westminster Police

Woman and 5 year old child badly hurt in crash: New Westminster Police
An adult female and a five year old child who were passengers in the vehicle suffered injuries requiring hospitalization.

Woman and 5 year old child badly hurt in crash: New Westminster Police

Province providing $50 million in COVID19 funding for hard-hit businesses

Province providing $50 million in COVID19 funding for hard-hit businesses
The new Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant will provide affected businesses with up to $10,000 in one-time funding to help with expenses like rent, insurance, employee wages, maintenance and utilities

Province providing $50 million in COVID19 funding for hard-hit businesses

School in Port Moody evacuated for police incident

School in Port Moody evacuated for police incident
No information as to why the staff and students were forced out and the police called in.

School in Port Moody evacuated for police incident

Advocates demand military complaint changes

Advocates demand military complaint changes
The House of Commons committee on the status of women is the second panel of MPs to probe the Liberal government's handling of allegations of sexual misconduct against senior military officers

Advocates demand military complaint changes

BC Greens call for stricter measures on COVID-19

BC Greens call for stricter measures on COVID-19
“Earlier this spring, I said it felt like government was not rising to the fight in light of rising case numbers. Now it is feeling like they are forfeiting the fight altogether,” said Sonia Furstenau, leader of the B.C. Green Party and MLA for Cowichan Valley

BC Greens call for stricter measures on COVID-19