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Poilievre says he won't speculate on whether budget vote would trigger an election

Conservative MP resigns seat before budget vote

Budget 2025: What each federal department plans to cut

Carney met with opposition leaders before tabling this budget.

But the government hasn't bent over backwards to court opposition parties in the weeks leading up to this vote.

As you likely remember, former prime minister Justin Trudeau essentially adopted big chunks of the NDP agenda as his own — including pharmacare and dental care — to secure its support for a multi-year confidence-and-supply agreement.

And in 2005, former prime minister Paul Martin agreed to spend some $4.6 billion on various NDP priorities to secure votes for his budget in that minority Parliament.

There's none of that with this prime minister. It's not quite a take or leave it approach — but it's close. Carney is essentially daring the Opposition to vote against this budget and prompt an election so soon after the last one.

The fact remains that there's very real damage being done to the Canadian economy and to Canadian businesses right now. So the toughest obstacle to the budget isn't necessarily just in implementing some sweeping changes, nor is it even in seeing if the bet pays off.

The hard part will be making sure the Canadian economy keeps its head above water.

If Canada can stave off a recession, keep the unemployment rate from rising further and avoid further escalation in the trade war, it will be much easier to implement the changes mapped out in this budget. But that is a tall order, and at least some of it is out of the Canadian government's control.

Finance minister sells budget as 'pivotal change in our nation's history'

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne responds to skepticism that his first budget can deliver its claim of $1 trillion in total investment over five years, and defends the value of the budget's $78-billion deficit. Champagne tells MPs from other parties 'to think twice' before deciding not to support the document as it remains unclear where the Liberals will find enough support to pass it.

Under the budget's "downside scenario," the Canadian economy would contract through the quarter running from April to June. Unemployment would peak around 7.4 per cent and Canadian growth would be weak for several years.

"Nominal GDP [would be] on average lower by $51 billion per year over the forecast horizon relative to the August 2025 survey forecast," the budget says.

That scenario would see a further weakening of the Canadian economy — and it's not far-fetched. It's possible that next month's GDP numbers will show Canada slipped into a recession this summer and unemployment has been rising for months.

Despite the stakes of tonight’s vote, and the seriousness of debating the budget, there’s been moments of levity in the House.

At one point Carney made some kind of direct comment to Poilievre, who sits across the aisle.

I couldn’t hear the comment up in the gallery — there’s still a lot of heckling from both sides — but Poilievre threw his head back laughing. Carney was all smiles too.

As qp wears on, Liberals continue to repeat their lines that there is something for all the opposition parties — and their constituents — in their budget. It’s a line they were spinning even before the budget was tabled.

The Conservatives and Bloc continue to push back.

“We introduce a historical budget,” said New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long

“It’s historical,” someone from the opposition shouted back. “Generational debt.”

Question period is as feisty as ever — Poilievre leading with accountability issues. Both sides are getting in their heckling, although the Opposition benches are louder to my ear.

There’s a special guest watching from the gallery: Hollywood star Richard Gere, who is in Ottawa to discuss human rights issues in Tibet.

He received a standing ovation before qp officially got underway, with one heckler from the government side yelling “Gere for leader” — a likely jab at Poilievre.

The NDP seems to be holding its cards close to the chest.

MP Heather McPherson — who is running to lead the party — was asked on her way into the House how she will vote.

The only comment she offered was a quick “You’ll see soon.”

Is Pierre Poilievre’s leadership in trouble?

Poilievre has built his brand on calling out Liberal spending and being an attack dog in the House, making Carney's first budget and its $78-billion deficit an easy target for the seasoned MP.

Instead of being the one on the offensive, the Conservative leader ended the week playing defence — down one MP to his rivals, another resigning from federal politics altogether and questions now swirling about his leadership.

We spoke with a number of sources about how the week fell apart for Poilievre and found the trouble started before the budget even dropped.

Poilievre says he’s not reflecting on leadership style after losing 2 MPs

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addressed the departure of two Conservative MPs for the first time at a news conference, saying he’s not changing his approach after floor-crossing MP Chris d’Entremont cited his leadership style as the reason he defected to the Liberals.

Last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he wasn't reflecting on his leadership style after two MPs announced they were leaving his caucus — including Chris d'Entremont, who cited the leader's "negative" approach to politics as the reason why he's calling it quits on the party.

"My plan is to continue to lead and be the only leader that's fighting for an affordable Canada where our people who work hard can afford a home and food. That is my agenda," he told reporters in Calgary.

Asked to respond to accusations from d'Entremont that the party is run like "a frat house" rather than "a serious political party," Poilievre referred to that MP's statement in the House of Commons about Liberal food inflation.

The budget also offered a glimpse into how government departments plan to save money.

The $141 billion in new spending would be offset by cuts and savings as the government hopes to slash the bureaucracy by 16,000 full-time equivalent positions over the next three fiscal years.

The budget didn't say exactly where those job cuts would happen, but it did break down how some departments plan to tighten their belts by 2030. Some departments weren't included, but you can see the total planned reductions for a number of institutions below:

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