Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 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

Nenshi won't seek re-election as Calgary mayor

Nenshi won't seek re-election as Calgary mayor
The 49-year-old, who has a master's degree from Harvard University, has served as mayor of Calgary for three terms.

Nenshi won't seek re-election as Calgary mayor

Additional charges laid after Masonic hall fires

Additional charges laid after Masonic hall fires
The first call came in at around 6:45 a.m. about a fire at the Lynn Valley Lodge in North Vancouver, while a second fire reported minutes later severely damaged a Masonic centre located four kilometres away.

Additional charges laid after Masonic hall fires

Ex-premier to testify at B.C.'s Cullen commission

Ex-premier to testify at B.C.'s Cullen commission
Former B.C. Liberal cabinet ministers Rich Coleman, Michael de Jong and Kash Heed will also testify, along with Shirley Bond, the party's interim leader who served as Clark's public safety minister and attorney general.

Ex-premier to testify at B.C.'s Cullen commission

Vancouver officer charged with assault: prosecutor

Vancouver officer charged with assault: prosecutor
The BC Prosecution Service says Const. Jonathan Kempton has been charged after the arrest of a shoplifting suspect in May 2019.

Vancouver officer charged with assault: prosecutor

Alberta clamps down as COVID-19 soars

Alberta clamps down as COVID-19 soars
Retail stores will be allowed 15 per cent customer capacity rather than the current 25 per cent, and low-intensity group fitness activities are once again banned.

Alberta clamps down as COVID-19 soars

Vancouver Police investigates multiple arsons over the Easter Long Weekend

Vancouver Police investigates multiple arsons over the Easter Long Weekend
Four fires occurred April 1 in the Downtown Eastside after someone set fire to garbage bins.

Vancouver Police investigates multiple arsons over the Easter Long Weekend