2005 Canadian Federal Budget - Changes Following The Liberal-NDP Deal

Changes Following The Liberal-NDP Deal

Prior to the second reading the political situation changed dramatically due to Jean Brault's explosive testimony at the Gomery Inquiry. Stephen Harper announced that the Liberals had lost the moral authority to govern and vowed to bring down the government. Thus when the budget came to its second reading the Conservatives rallied against it. In order to ensure the continued confidence of the House, the Liberals struck a deal with the NDP to amend the budget. This amendment called for a reduction of the foreseen corporate tax cuts and $4.6 billion in additional spending on social programs.

Despite the NDP support, the government remained in a precarious position, requiring the support of all three independent Members of Parliament (MPs). On May 17, Conservative MP Belinda Stronach crossed the floor to the Liberals, giving them a crucial extra vote. Soon after, Liberal polling numbers ended their slide and began to recover. Two Conservative MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador, Loyola Hearn and Norman Doyle, were also pressured by provincial premier Danny Williams to vote in favour of the budget, as it included the provisions of the government's recent Atlantic Accords. The Conservatives eventually announced that they would vote in favour of the main budget bill, containing the Atlantic Accord, but would vote against the second bill containing the NDP amendments.