The minority Liberal government appears poised to survive the first of three confidence tests on its budget, with the NDP and Bloc Québécois declaring Thursday that they will not vote with the Conservatives on an amendment.
"The Conservatives want massive cuts to public spending. That's exactly the opposite direction that New Democrats think we need to go in," interim NDP leader Don Davies said Thursday afternoon before the vote.
But Prime Minister Mark Carney's caucus is likely not breathing a sigh of relief just yet. Davies said he and the six other New Democrats have not decided how they'll vote going forward — and the government is still two votes shy of what it needs to pass the budget on its own.
"We had a discussion about the vote today and we decided we're going to vote no today, and we'll have a discussion tomorrow about the Bloc motion," Davies said.
Members of Parliament are set to vote Thursday evening and Friday on two amendments to the budget that were proposed by the Conservatives and the Bloc.
Government House leader Steven MacKinnon's office said the votes are being considered matters of confidence because both amendments call on MPs to reject the budget.
If the government loses either vote, or the main vote on the budget itself, it will have lost the confidence of the House, which could trigger an election.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne told reporters he's heard from Canadians this week who are happy with the budget.
"I would invite any member of the opposition, go in the street, talk to people, and you'll see what they tell you." he said.
The Bloc had a highly unusual opportunity on Wednesday to propose the main amendment to the budget — after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre missed his chance.
Traditionally, the Official Opposition leader amends the budget after their speech to the House of Commons. The third party then has a chance to add a sub-amendment.
Poilievre finished his speech without moving an amendment and the Bloc jumped in to add its own, which calls on MPs to reject the budget because it is "harmful to Quebec."
The Tory sub-amendment, added on Thursday, also calls on MPs to reject the budget on the basis that the government did not present "an affordable budget so Canadians can have an affordable life."
Poilievre's procedural mixup means little to the overall fate of the budget or the government. Davies said it "speaks to the disarray in the Conservative party right now."
Parliament Hill has been buzzing with rumours and speculation after Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont left the Conservative caucus on Tuesday, just hours after the budget was released, and joined the Liberals.
The move puts the government within two seats of a majority and the Liberals are reportedly trying to woo more opposition MPs.
Alberta Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux's office released a statement Wednesday saying he was not planning to cross the floor. Quebec MP Dominique Vien released a video in which she addressed the rumours and reaffirmed that she's a Conservative Party of Canada MP.
Quebec MP Gérard Deltell told reporters in Quebec City on Thursday that d'Entremont's departure was an isolated event.
"There won't be any other departures, that's the reality, whether it's in Quebec or elsewhere," he said after an event where Poilievre delivered a speech.
His caucus colleague Jacques Gourde seemed less certain, however. He told reporters he doesn't think any more MPs will leave but he "can't guarantee anything."
The main vote on the budget will happen after Parliament takes a weeklong break next week.
Liberal MP Sean Casey told reporters that in spite of all the posturing this week, he thinks the House will find a way to pass the budget.
"People recognize deep down that they will be punished for forcing a Christmas election," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2025.
— With files from Catherine Morrison in Ottawa and Caroline Plante in Quebec City
