In a last-minute twist during Monday’s budget vote, two senior Conservatives encountered technical issues with their electronic voting app, delaying their decision to vote against Prime Minister Mark Carney’s budget. Andrew Scheer and Scott Reid, key figures within the party, refrained from casting their votes until all other MPs had completed their voting process.
Amidst speculation and video footage showing individuals behind curtains on the Conservative side of the House of Commons during the vote count, Scheer’s chief of staff clarified to CBC News that neither Scheer nor Reid were the ones captured in the footage.
As the budget seemed poised to pass due to two NDP abstentions and two other Conservatives abstaining, Scheer and Reid expressed their desire to vote against the budget but cited technological difficulties within Parliament as hindering them. The Speaker eventually permitted them to vote after the main voting session had concluded.
Despite their strong opposition to the Liberal budget, sources indicate that the Conservative Party leadership aims to avoid a premature election, particularly as polls suggest Carney is more favored as the potential prime minister compared to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Leading up to the dramatic vote, discussions between the Conservatives, NDP, and Bloc Québécois had taken place regarding potential abstentions to prevent triggering an election. Ultimately, the budget’s fate hinged on the Conservative votes, with Poilievre vehemently opposing the $78-billion deficit outlined in the budget document.
The absence of MPs such as Matt Jeneroux and Shannon Stubbs, the latter on medical leave due to jaw surgery affecting her ability to vote remotely, further influenced the outcome of the vote. Stubbs, who faced criticism for her non-vote, had expressed opposition to Carney’s budget through social media.
In response to the vote, Poilievre criticized the budget’s potential impact on Canadians’ cost of living and future, emphasizing the Conservative stance against the document. The Liberals, on the other hand, welcomed the budget’s passage, with Government House Leader Steve MacKinnon highlighting the functionality of the minority Parliament.
Prime Minister Mark Carney hailed the budget vote as a positive outcome for Canadians, underscoring the unity and prioritization of national interests among parliamentarians.
