The minority Liberal government survived the first of three possible no-confidence votes on its inaugural budget, defeating a Conservative amendment seeking to slash public spending.

The amendment was defeated 198–139, with the New Democrats (NDP) and Bloc Québécois voting against it.

While the Liberals cleared this initial hurdle, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s caucus remains cautious, aware that the true test will come when the full budget faces a final vote in the House of Commons.

The government’s narrow survival came amid signs of growing momentum for the Liberals. Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont crossed the floor earlier this week to join the Liberal caucus, boosting the party’s count to 171—just two seats short of a majority.

Following the vote, interim NDP leader Don Davies said he and his six-member caucus had not yet decided how they would vote on future confidence matters. “We had a discussion about the vote today, and we decided we are going to vote no today, and we will have a discussion tomorrow about the Bloc motion,” Davies said.

“The Conservatives want massive cuts to public spending. That’s exactly the opposite direction that New Democrats think we need to go in,” he added.

Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon’s office confirmed that both the Bloc and Conservative amendments are being treated as matters of confidence because they call on MPs to reject the budget.

If the government loses Friday’s vote or the final budget vote, it would lose the confidence of the House—potentially triggering a federal election. The main vote on the budget is scheduled after Parliament’s weeklong recess next week.

Liberal MP Sean Casey expressed confidence that the budget will ultimately pass. “People recognize deep down that they will be punished for forcing a Christmas election,” he said.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne told reporters that he has received positive feedback from Canadians about the budget. “I would invite any member of the opposition to go in the street, talk to people, and you’ll see what they tell you,” Champagne said.

The Bloc Québécois gained an unusual opportunity to propose the main amendment to the budget after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre failed to move one following his speech. Traditionally, the Official Opposition introduces the first amendment, followed by a sub-amendment from the third party.

Poilievre’s procedural lapse allowed the Bloc to table its amendment, which called on MPs to reject the budget as “harmful to Quebec.” The Conservative sub-amendment, added Thursday, accused the government of failing to present “an affordable budget so Canadians can have an affordable life.”

Davies described Poilievre’s error as emblematic of “the disarray in the Conservative party right now.”

Speculation has swirled around Parliament Hill since d’Entremont’s defection. Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux and Quebec MP Dominique Vien have both denied rumors they plan to follow suit, reaffirming their loyalty to the Conservative Party.

Quebec MP Gérard Deltell told reporters Thursday that d’Entremont’s move was an isolated case. “There won’t be any other departures; that’s the reality, whether it’s in Quebec or elsewhere,” he said. However, his colleague Jacques Gourde struck a more cautious tone, saying he doesn’t expect more MPs to leave but “can’t guarantee anything.”

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