The Conservative party’s attempt to introduce a sub-amendment to the budget was rejected by the Liberals, Bloc Québécois, and NDP, preventing a potential trigger for a new election. The sub-amendment aimed to counter a Bloc Québécois amendment calling for the budget’s rejection, with a vote on the Bloc amendment scheduled for Friday.

According to a spokesperson for Liberal House leader Steven MacKinnon, both votes were considered matters of confidence by the government. Losing a confidence vote could typically lead to a federal election.

Interim NDP Leader Don Davies stated that all seven New Democrat MPs would oppose the Conservative sub-amendment, minimizing the risk of a snap election. Despite Thursday’s outcome, the support for the actual budget from Bloc and NDP MPs remains uncertain, with a vote expected later this month after a one-week recess for Remembrance Day.

Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet initiated the initial amendment, arguing that the budget did not align with his party’s demands, prompting the Conservatives to propose a sub-amendment condemning the budget for not meeting Conservative expectations. The Bloc rejected this proposal, indicating differing stances among the parties.

The budget, introduced by the Liberal government on Tuesday, includes significant new spending to address economic challenges from U.S. tariffs, coupled with planned public service cuts for cost-saving purposes. The procedural deviation by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, missing the opportunity to amend the budget, allowed Blanchet to seize the chance to propose changes, though the overall impact on the budget’s fate remains unaffected.