MPs vote against Bloc amendment to budget

The Tory budget survived its first test on Thursday night after a Bloc Québécois motion failed to pass in the House of Commons.

The sub-amendment, considered a confidence vote but not expected to pass, would have toppled the government had it passed. It was defeated by a vote of 214 to 85.

Although the NDP supported the Bloc amendment, the Liberals joined Conservative MPs to vote it down.

The amendment would have forced the Conservative government to eliminate promised tax breaks and abandon plans for a national securities regulator.

It would also have enhanced Employment Insurance, provided direct assistance to manufacturers and forestry, and left untouched the existing pay equity and equalization formulas.

The budget is expected to pass as the Tories have agreed to an amendment proposal by the Liberals calling for regular updates to Parliament on the impact of economic stimulus projects.

The budget promises billions of dollars in new spending — ranging from money for infrastructure projects to aid for worker training and cash for more employment insurance benefits — to help the country ride out the economic downturn.

But it also projects a total of $85 billion in deficits by the spring of 2013.

Both the NDP and the Bloc Québécois have said they will vote against the budget, meaning the Conservatives need Liberal support to ensure the budget passes and their minority government survives.