2005 Canadian Federal Budget - Voting in The House of Commons

Voting in The House of Commons

After Stronach's move, the government could count on the same number of votes as the opposition: the Liberals, the NDP and independent MP Carolyn Parrish supported the budget, while the Conservatives and the Bloc opposed it. The fate of the government thus hung on the decisions of the other two independent MPs: David Kilgour and Chuck Cadman. The government needed the support of at least one of the two to continue to enjoy the confidence of the House. Cadman was suffering from malignant melanoma, and before the day of the vote it was not clear whether or not he would be able to attend.

On May 19, a vote was held for second reading of Bill C-43 (the main budget), and Bill C-48 (the amendments). The main budget bill passed on a vote of 250 to 54, with only the Bloc Québécois voting against. The second bill received a vote of 152 Yea and 152 Nay. The Conservatives and Bloc Québécois voted against second reading, while the Liberals and NDP voted in favour. Conservative MP Darrel Stinson was unable to attend the vote due to cancer surgery, so Liberal MP Peter Adams agreed to sit out as a courtesy. Independent MP Kilgour voted against the budget, while Parrish and Cadman voted in favour. In the event of a tied vote, the Speaker casts the tie-breaking vote. According to parliamentary convention, the Speaker votes, whenever possible, for the continuation of debate. Thus, the Speaker voted in favour of second reading, "to allow the House time for further debate so that it can make its own decision at some future time."

Allegations were later made in a book by Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk in early 2008 that the Conservative Party attempted to get Cadman to support the Conservative's positions by offering him a $1 million life insurance policy. If the allegations are true, what the Conservatives did would amount to bribing an MP, which is a criminal offence. Conservative leader and Prime Minister at the time of the allegations Stephen Harper denied that the party bribed Cadman. As of February 2008, the allegations have not been proven.

After this vote, the Conservatives admitted their defeat and backed away from their pledge to bring down the government. On June 14, a series of 16 votes were held pertaining to the budget: one for concurring in the committee report for Bill C-43 and dozens of amendments and other motions. As many as 15 were considered confidence votes and could have triggered an election if one was lost. Several opposition members were absent. The government won each vote, virtually guaranteeing that no election would be held in the summer of 2005.

Two days later, Bill C-43 was finally passed, and moved to the Senate. Meanwhile, the NDP amendments came out of committee and debate was launched.

On June 23, the House voted to extend the session into the summer to deal with C-48 and with the same-sex marriage bill (Bill C-38). Then, in a late-night session after several Conservative members had already left the house, the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc voted to invoke closure on the debate. The Liberals and NDP then voted in favour of passing Bill C-48, defeating the Conservatives and Bloc by a margin of 5 votes. The outcome upset Conservative MPs, and left the same-sex marriage bill as the only major business to be dealt with during the extended session in the House. It, too, was passed on June 28, allowing the House to call a recess.

The bills moved to the Senate. Bill C-43 was still in committee hearing stage on the morning of June 28, but Liberal senators rushed the bill through the legislative process all day, allowing it to receive Royal Assent before the day was over.

Bill C-48 was more controversial, but continual invocations of closure stopped what might have been a filibuster by the Opposition, and on July 20, it, along with four other controversial government bills, were passed, allowing the Senate to enter into recess. They all received Royal Assent within the day.