skip to contentAdvertisementConservative MP Matt Jeneroux unexpectedly resigned, citing family reasons. The move came amid speculation that he, too, had been in talks with Carney.By: Express Web Desk November 8, 2025 06:54 PM IST First published on: Nov 8, 2025 at 06:54 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. (AP)Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority Liberal government has survived two confidence votes on its budget, easing fears of a possible winter election, The Guardian reported.The Liberals passed the second of three votes on Friday, clearing the way for tens of billions of dollars in new spending. With no majority in Parliament, the party depended on some opposition members crossing the floor to back the plan.Conservative MPs voted with the Liberals, allowing the budget to move ahead to a final vote expected in mid-November.Why the budget mattersFinance Minister François-Philippe Champagne presented the federal budget on Tuesday, saying a slowdown in the domestic economy and a trade dispute with the United States had forced Ottawa to increase spending and accept a larger deficit.“The level of uncertainty is higher than what we have seen and felt for generations,” Champagne told lawmakers, according to The Guardian. “Bold and swift action is needed.”The government said the extra spending would go towards “generational investments” aimed at reshaping Canada’s economy. The deficit for 2025-26 is now projected at C$78.3bn, up from an earlier estimate of C$42.2bn. Ottawa expects to reduce it to C$56.6bn by 2029-30.How Carney secured the votesBefore the votes, Carney’s Liberals held 169 seats, three short of a majority needed to pass the budget. That raised the prospect of a Christmas election.But on Tuesday, Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont from Nova Scotia defected to the Liberals, calling it a rejection of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s approach. He suggested that other members of his former party were also unhappy.Later in the week, Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux unexpectedly resigned, citing family reasons. The move came amid speculation that he, too, had been in talks with Carney.Government whip Mark Gerretsen told reporters, “There’s no way this is just a coincidence,” saying Poilievre was “seeing progressive lawmakers in his ranks abandon the party,” The Guardian wrote.Most ReadCarney’s political balancing actCarney, a former economist and central banker, has sought to stay above partisan politics but has shown a growing willingness to negotiate with opposition members.“I will speak to anyone publicly or otherwise who might support our legislative goals,” he told reporters.Lori Turnbull, director of Dalhousie University’s School of Public Administration, told The Guardian that Carney’s focus on economic management has helped him connect with moderate conservatives. “They have a lot in common with Carney,” she said.AdvertisementAdvertisementLoading Taboola...