Liberal House leader Steve MacKinnon expressed concerns on Tuesday about the potential lack of opposition support for the government’s upcoming budget, while also dismissing certain demands put forth by other parties. The Liberal government will require backing from at least one other party to pass the budget, set to be presented on November 4th. Failure to secure this support could lead to a scenario where Canadians face the prospect of another election.
MacKinnon conveyed his apprehension to reporters at Parliament Hill, stating, “When I see opposition parties ruling out the possibility of voting for the budget, that’s starting to worry me.” Opposition parties have begun outlining their priorities for the forthcoming budget. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney, emphasizing the need for an “affordable budget” featuring broad tax cuts and a deficit cap of no more than $42 billion.
On the other hand, the Bloc Québécois has highlighted six key budget priorities, such as increasing federal health transfers to provinces, investing in new infrastructure, expanding the rapid housing initiative, offering interest-free loans to first-time homebuyers, and enhancing Old Age Security (OAS) payments for individuals aged 65 to 75. Despite concerns about garnering support for the budget, MacKinnon dismissed the demands put forth by both the Conservative and Bloc parties, labeling them as unreasonable.
Responding to MacKinnon’s remarks, NDP interim Leader Don Davies asserted that it is the government’s responsibility to secure support for its budget. Davies stressed during a press conference in Ottawa, “The question of whether there is an election is entirely up to Mr. Carney. As a leader of a minority government, it’s his duty to craft a budget that can secure at least one opposition party’s backing.”
While the NDP caucus currently holds only seven seats following the recent election, their support or abstention could influence the budget’s fate. Davies recently met with Carney to outline the NDP’s budget priorities, emphasizing the need for significant investments in job creation, healthcare, and housing. Carney has hinted that this year’s deficit will surpass the previous year’s figure, despite the Liberal pledge to balance operational spending within three years.
A recent report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer projected an annual deficit of $68.5 billion for this year, up from $51.7 billion in the previous year. Notably, this projection does not encompass the planned gradual increase in defense spending to meet the updated NATO target of five percent of GDP by 2035, nor does it consider Ottawa’s proposed reductions in public service spending over the next three years.