Carney government wins crucial confidence vote on budget

Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority government budget passed a third and crucial confidence vote on Monday evening thanks to the support of the Green Party and multiple abstentions, averting the possibility of a federal election at the end of this year.

MPs voted to approve the Liberal government’s budget.Budget motion passed 170 to 168.Two NDP MPs and two Conservative MPs abstained from voting.Prime Minister Mark Carney said it’s ‘looking good’ as he headed back into the House.Green Party Leader Elizabeth May voted yes.May announced her decision after Carney committed to meeting Paris climate targets during question period.Budget votes are treated like confidence votes, so the government needed a win to avoid another election.Carney's first budget calls for billions of dollars in new spending to help the economy in the face of the trade war, along with cuts to the public service the government says would save billions of dollars.