The Liberal government has survived the first of what is expected to be a series of confidence votes during this fall sitting.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre brought forward a non-confidence motion this week in an effort to topple the government and trigger an early election.
The result of Wednesday’s vote wasn’t really in doubt, as the NDP and Bloc Québécois had signalled they wouldn’t support the Conservative motion.
Wednesday’s vote was also the first confidence motion brought forward after the NDP backed out of its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals. While that agreement was in place, the Liberals could count on the NDP to back them on confidence votes in exchange for movement on certain policy priorities.
The final tally was 211 MPs voting against the motion and 120 in favour.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau debate before a Conservative motion of non-confidence in Trudeau and the government goes to a vote.
The Conservatives are already planning to bring forward a new non-confidence motion on Thursday and a second vote is expected to take place next week. The Conservatives also will be allotted three more opposition days — where opposition motions take priority over government business — this fall.
The Bloc and NDP also will be allotted one opposition day each before the House is scheduled to rise for Christmas.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet laid out a list of demands Wednesday he said the government must fulfil by the end of October if it wants to avoid the risk of an early election.