BREAKING: Liberal budget passes thanks to two NDP abstentions

Mark Carney’s Liberals managed to push through their 2025 budget in the House of Commons late Monday, thanks only to two NDP MPs who conveniently abstained from the final 170-168 vote.

Source: X

Mark Carney’s Liberals managed to push through their 2025 budget in the House of Commons late Monday, thanks only to two NDP MPs who conveniently abstained from the final 170-168 vote.

Two Conservatives also abstained, while the rest voted against. Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux, who had previously announced his impending resignation next spring, was not present, nor did he cast a vote. Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs was on approved medical leave after surgery.

The Liberal budget passed, surviving the final hurdle after two earlier confidence motions on the budget bill.

“Tonight, the House of Commons has voted to pass Budget 2025,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a post to X. “It’s time to work together to deliver on this plan — to protect our communities, empower Canadians with new opportunities, and build Canada strong.”

The vote saw abstentions from two NDP MPs, Gord Johns and Lori Idlout, while the other five NDP MPs voted Nay.

“We have decided to put the interests of our country first—to vote against the budget but to help prevent an election,” NDP interim leader Don Davies told reporters after the vote.

All Bloc Quebecois MPs voted Nay.

However, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May voted in favour, following her pledge earlier in the day to support the Carney government’s budget to prevent an election, citing climate promises.

“I will vote yes to avoid an election,” May told reporters on Parliament Hill on Monday. She said she received a “firm commitment” that the government will meet Canada’s targets under the Paris climate agreement.

“I’m not giving them any kind of blank cheque,” May added, while acknowledging ongoing concerns with the budget. “We are at the very edge of it being too late for us to make sure that our own children and grandchildren alive today can live in a livable world.”

The budget’s passing comes only days after the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) published a report criticizing the Carney government’s accounting practices. The report suggested the Liberals were trying to hide billions in operating costs by classifying them as capital spending.

Budget 2025 promised a new split between “operating” and “capital” spending, with a commitment to balance the operating budget by 2028-29.

However, the PBO report, published on Friday, calls the government’s definition of capital investments “overly expansive,” saying it includes spending not considered capital formation under well-established international frameworks.

“Capital investments would total $217.3 billion over 2024-25 to 2029-30—approximately 30 per cent ($94 billion) lower compared to Budget 2025. Moreover, based on PBO’s definition, the day-to-day operating balance after new measures would remain in a deficit position,” the report states.

It also suggests the Liberals would run an $18-billion operating deficit by 2028-29.