Paul Martin and Liberal Party Withstand Confidence Vote

Independent MP Chuck Cadman stands with the government during confidence vote on Thursday.

The Canadian Government of Prime Minister Paul Martin barely survives a confidence vote in Parliament this afternoon. The Globe and Mail has the story here:

The Liberal government survived a crucial budget vote Thursday night by a sliver, effectively ending the possibility of a snap election and giving the governing minority a bit of breathing room to finish this session of Parliament before the summer break.

By the closest of margins, the Grits, along with the support of the NDP, and Independent MPs Chuck Cadman and Carolyn Parrish, pushed their budget with NDP amendments through, thus surviving a non-confidence motion on Bill C-48 which contained $4.6-billion in concessions for the Democrats. The final result was 152 to 152, with the Speaker breaking the tie for the government.

Read the rest of the story here.

Paul Martin survives to live another day but a tie vote in Parliament is certainly no mandate.

Now, the Liberal Party will have to govern and hope the Gomery Inquiry does not result in any further defections.