Minutes before the deadline for Monday’s budget vote, two senior Conservatives made a last-minute appearance in the chamber, claiming technical issues with their electronic voting app and expressing their intention to oppose Prime Minister Mark Carney’s budget. MPs Andrew Scheer and Scott Reid, the party’s House leader and caucus chair, delayed casting their votes until all their colleagues had finished voting. Despite video footage suggesting otherwise, Scheer’s chief of staff denied their presence behind curtains during the vote count.
With the budget likely to pass due to two NDP abstentions and two other Conservatives abstaining, Scheer and Reid sought to vote against it but faced technological difficulties. The Speaker permitted their delayed votes. Although the Conservatives strongly opposed the Liberal budget, party sources indicated a reluctance for an early election, with polls favoring Carney over Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
There was uncertainty surrounding the New Democrats’ stance on the vote, with MPs keeping their decisions private. Scheer and Reid refraining from voting could have provided the party flexibility in potentially preventing a government collapse, given the budget’s significance as a confidence matter. Scheer’s remote voting intention was attributed to his prior engagement in a human rights meeting.
Former Mulroney chief of staff David McLaughlin suggested the Conservatives strategically ensured a unanimous vote against the budget, avoiding a government defeat. The last-minute actions drew criticism from Liberals, with Public Works Minister Joël Lightbound hinting at possible future support from the Conservatives. The focus for Poilievre and his team has shifted to an upcoming leadership review in January.
Before the high-stakes vote, the Conservatives engaged in discussions with the NDP and Bloc Québécois to manage the outcome, considering abstentions to avert an election. Despite Poilievre’s strong opposition to the budget, it would have passed based on Conservative votes alone. Absences by MPs like Matt Jeneroux, who announced resignation plans, and Shannon Stubbs, on medical leave, impacted the voting dynamics.
Stubbs’ absence, attributed to post-surgery complications hindering remote voting, sparked online criticism. Some Conservatives defended her loyalty and dedication to the party. Poilievre denounced the budget’s potential impact on Canadians, omitting reference to the absent MPs. The Liberals hailed the outcome as a testament to the functioning of the minority Parliament, with Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne echoing Carney’s sentiments of it being a positive outcome for Canadians.