Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faces a critical test on Monday when Parliament votes on his first budget, with a defeat potentially triggering a second federal election in less than a year.
Carney’s Liberals are a few seats short of a majority in the 343-seat House of Commons, meaning they will need some opposition MPs to support the budget or abstain from voting. The vote is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time (23:45 GMT).
On paper, Carney appears safe as the left-leaning New Democrats, who lost nearly three-quarters of their seats in the April election that brought Carney to power, have indicated they will not bring him down. The party is low on funds and lacks a permanent leader.
The Globe and Mail reported on Monday that a senior Liberal source expected the government to narrowly win the vote. If it loses, Carney could either call an election or negotiate a deal with the New Democrats, whereby they would support him in exchange for increased social spending.
Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, struck a similar deal with the New Democrats that lasted two-and-a-half years.
Recent polls suggest the Liberals would retain power if an election were held now. The right-of-centre Conservative Party, which lost the April election, is facing internal divisions, with leader Pierre Poilievre due for a performance review in January.
Carney’s budget, an economic plan for the coming fiscal year, proposes doubling the fiscal deficit to counter U.S. tariffs and fund defence and housing programmes. While it includes cuts to the federal workforce, the budget does not feature the level of austerity some had feared.
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A renewed wave of U.S. diplomatic activity in the South Caucasus highlights Washington’s growing focus on regional connectivity, trade and security, according to Associate Professor George Mchedlishvili of European University in Tbilisi.
Kyrgyzstan has signed a series of cooperation agreements with China and Belarus at the Fifth Forum of Regional Leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, underlining the country's growing economic engagement within the regional bloc.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is "outpacing containment efforts" amid conflict, weak disease surveillance and limited access to healthcare, according to London-based pharmacist and health commentator Thorrun Govind.
The U.S. and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary 60-day ceasefire and nuclear talks deal, pending Donald Trump’s approval, Axios reports. Meanwhile, the GCC condemned Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. airbase in Kuwait, which Tehran said was retaliation for a U.S. strike near Bandar Abbas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says ongoing conflict, funding pressures and international travel restrictions are complicating efforts to contain a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz has taken steps towards potentially declaring a state of emergency as anti-government protests intensify in the early months of his administration.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed 15 agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Astana on Thursday (28 May), including deals on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and expanded oil cooperation with Russia.
A growing majority of Europeans believe the European Union should pursue a more independent foreign policy and reduce its reliance on the U.S., according to a new survey published on Friday.
An Inca child mummy discovered high in the Andes more than a century ago has been returned to an indigenous community in north-western Argentina after spending 119 years in a museum collection.
India is expected to experience its weakest monsoon in more than a decade in 2026, raising concerns over crop production, food prices and economic growth as the country also grapples with inflationary pressures linked to the Iran conflict.
Kenyan authorities have arrested eight students on suspicion of arson following a fire at a girls’ boarding school that killed 16, according to the country’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations. The blaze, which happened in Kenya's Rift Valley, also injured dozens of students.
The British government has unveiled 300,000 new work experience and training placements for young people after a major review warned that rising youth unemployment could leave more young people disconnected from work, education and training.
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