A Bloc Québécois motion to change the speech from the throne failed Thursday night after the Liberals and NDP joined the Tories to vote it down.

Although the sub-amendment was a confidence vote, meaning its passage would have triggered an election, most expected it to be defeated.

It needed support of all the opposition parties to pass. Instead, only the Bloc voted in support of the motion, which was defeated by a vote of 240 to 48.

The sub-amendment criticized "the inaction of the Liberal and Conservative governments" over efforts to curb greenhouse gas emission.

It also demanded an end to Ottawa's spending power in areas controlled by the provinces, and called for concrete measures to help workers affected by Quebec's forestry crisis.

MPs are expected to vote on a Liberal amendment Monday, and on the main throne speech motion Wednesday.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has already indicated if his amendment is defeated, which is likely, then the Liberals will abstain from voting on the main throne speech.

That would ensure its passage.

With files from the Canadian Press