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

Old-growth forest at centre of dispute in B.C.

Old-growth forest at centre of dispute in B.C.
The B.C. government granted Teal permits last year to cut timber within three areas of its tenure of about 595 square kilometres.

Old-growth forest at centre of dispute in B.C.

Deal reach in Vancouver to help the homeless

Deal reach in Vancouver to help the homeless
Strathcona Park has been occupied since last June by people living in up to 400 tents. The province has promised to provide housing by April 30.

Deal reach in Vancouver to help the homeless

Two hurt, police watchdog called after B.C. crash

Two hurt, police watchdog called after B.C. crash
Police attempted a traffic stop, but the driver kept going and a short time later they received a report that the same truck had crashed through the wall of a gym, hitting the women.

Two hurt, police watchdog called after B.C. crash

COVID-19 variants hitting younger people hard

COVID-19 variants hitting younger people hard
In some places the B.1.1.7 variant has become the dominant strain, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said Tuesday.

COVID-19 variants hitting younger people hard

B.C. leads industry in electric vehicle sales

B.C. leads industry in electric vehicle sales
The provincial government says more than 54,000 light-duty electric vehicles were registered in B.C. last year.

B.C. leads industry in electric vehicle sales

Youth suspected in sex assault of B.C. child

Youth suspected in sex assault of B.C. child
Police say the suspect is not seriously physically hurt but is upset and its victim services department is involved.

Youth suspected in sex assault of B.C. child