Prime Minister Mark Carney has survived his government’s first test of confidence as the House of Commons voted Wednesday to adopt the throne speech delivered by King Charles III last week.
The motion was approved by unanimous consent, despite the NDP vowing earlier Wednesday that it would vote against the minority Liberals. No one asked for a recorded vote.
Government House leader Steven MacKinnon said on social media that the adoption of the speech sets the stage for a “strong and focused agenda.”
“We have a clear mandate to deliver on priorities for Canadians and build a strong Canada — and we’re going to do just that,” MacKinnon said.
The move to approve the throne speech came shortly after news broke that former cabinet minister Marc Garneau had passed away, which led to a moment of silence in the House of Commons.
A speech from the throne is traditionally a confidence matter, meaning the government could have been defeated if it failed — potentially triggering a new election, or the governor general allowing another party to attempt to form government.
The Liberals, who hold 169 seats in the House of Commons — three seats short of a majority government — needs at least three opposition MPs to vote with them on any legislation or other measures they want passed.
Conservatives had not said how they would vote on the motion but have publicly criticized the throne speech while pushing the Liberals to present a budget.
NDP interim leader Don Davies told reporters Wednesday his caucus had decided to vote no, citing what they view as insufficient supports for working families and affordable housing, as well as no mention of health care.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet has said his party would support the minority government at least until a new economic and security deal with the U.S. is reached that lowers or reduces tariffs, calling for a “truce” and stability shortly after the federal election.
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The Liberals lost a vote on a Conservative motion Monday that called for a spring economic update, but the measure is non-binding.
Carney said in question period Tuesday he will “take note” of the measure but did not signal an intent to answer it.
“I think the note said ‘urge’ and we’ll take note of having been urged,” MacKinnon told reporters Tuesday.
The government last week tabled main spending estimates worth nearly $487 billion. MPs will be required to vote on the estimates to keep government operations running into the summer.
MPs debated the contents of the throne speech for several days after King Charles’ historic address in Parliament last Tuesday. It was the first time a British monarch has delivered the speech from the throne as Canada’s sovereign in nearly 50 years.
Even in the final hours of debate Wednesday, opposition MPs criticized the speech and pressed the Liberals for a detailed spending plan, while Liberals urged all parties to support their vision.
In the House of Commons Wednesday, during a debate on the reply to the throne speech, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said she would vote in favour of the speech.
May said she agreed with the major theme of the speech — building a stronger Canada — but said it lacked details and only mentioned climate change in “passing references.”
The throne speech included several Liberal priorities Carney first unveiled during the election campaign, including promises for new actions the government says will boost the economy, defence and border security.
Opposition party leaders have said the speech was vague, relied too much on slogans and didn’t clearly explain how the government plans to scale back its spending, another Carney promise.
Carney has vowed to table bills in the coming days that will eliminate federal barriers to interprovincial trade by Canada Day, and to fast-track major energy and infrastructure projects deemed in the “national interest.”
Legislation to lower the bottom tax bracket threshold by one per cent and strengthen immigration and law enforcement resources at the border have already been tabled.
The government last week tabled main spending estimates worth nearly $487 billion. MPs will be required to vote on the estimates to keep government operations running into the summer.
—With files from the Canadian Press
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