Conservatives pass first test of budget
Last Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2008 | 6:27 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority government easily survived the first confidence test of its latest budget on Thursday.
A Bloc Quebecois sub-amendment to a motion approving Tuesday's budget was defeated by a vote of 230-45.
Liberals and New Democrats joined Harper's Conservatives to defeat the Bloc sub-amendment, which slammed the budget for failing to adequately aid the ailing forestry and manufacturing sectors, or transfer billions to the provinces for post-secondary education.
It also deplored the budget's failure to eliminate the federal spending power.
The spending power reference prompted the NDP to vote against the sub-amendment, even though the party is prepared to force an election over the budget.
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has said his party will not defeat the government over the budget. The party's amendment to the budget motion will be voted on Monday.
