Tories win speech amendment, spelling Liberals' first loss in House
The amendment enjoyed full support of all opposition parties
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A push by the Conservatives to add an amendment to the Liberals’ response to the Throne Speech narrowly passed Monday, marking the first defeat in the new House of Commons session.
The amendment, a largely non-binding call for the government to issue an economic update before the summer break, passed 166 to 164, enjoying full support of all opposition parties.
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All Liberals present voted in favour but four Liberal MPs did not vote because of paired abstentions, which happen when parties agree to have a member sit out a vote because someone from another party is not able to attend.
The amendment stemmed from the Mark Carney Liberals’ assertion that they would not table a budget this year — a move they promptly walked back on amid outcry, promising one in the fall.
That isn’t good enough, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said last week, promising to pressure the government to open their books before the House rises for summer break later this month.
Monday’s vote was not a confidence motion, so the minority Carney Liberals are in no danger of toppling so early in their mandate.
But the throne speech vote is a make-or-break vote, expected to happen once debate on the throne speech response wraps later this week.
— With files from CP
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