Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended his federal budget as one shaped with input from multiple parties across the aisle, as his government seeks support to pass the bill in a closely divided Parliament.

Carney needs just two more votes or abstentions to clear his budget, after one MP recently crossed over to the Liberals. The government’s strategy is to secure backing by including funding for specific projects that directly benefit opposition ridings.

Speaking in Ottawa following the budget’s presentation by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Carney said the budget reflects “differing degrees of input” from opposition MPs and contains measures aligned with their demands. These include community projects and program reinvestments in areas represented by Bloc Québécois, NDP and Conservative MPs.

Bloc Québécois: Crucial Decision in Quebec

One of the most influential cases is that of Bloc MP Alexis Deschênes, whose riding of Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine-Listuguj is set to benefit from funds for the Exploramer Shark Pavilion and a major shipyard project. Whether these gains sway him to support or abstain remains uncertain.

NDP MPs: Balancing Ideals and Local Priorities

Several NDP MPs face similar dilemmas. In Vancouver’s Kingsway riding, interim NDP leader Don Davies represents a large Filipino community, which stands to benefit from a proposed Filipino Community and Cultural Centre.

In Alberta, NDP MP Heather McPherson may lean towards supporting the budget as it funds the Rapid Fire Theatre in her Edmonton-Strathcona riding. Meanwhile, B.C.-based Gord Johns has been pressing for clean tech tax credits and federal support for an aerial firefighting fleet—both included in the budget.

Yet, the budget's version of the NDP's Youth Climate Corps falls far short of the party’s election promise: $40 million over two years instead of $500 million. The Greens criticized the reduced scope, though they welcomed funding for housing, dental care, school lunches, and railways.

Conservatives: Personal and Political Stakes

Four Conservative MPs also see direct riding benefits in the budget, including support for Regina’s RCMP Heritage Centre, a victims’ memorial in Richmond Hill, and an Earth sciences centre in Quebec. Yet, the budget’s lack of significant tax cuts and its $78-billion deficit may clash with core Conservative values.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre demanded tax reductions, deficit limits, and carbon policy rollbacks—none of which fully materialized. The Liberals did remove GST on new homes up to $1 million, but other key requests were ignored.

Bloc’s Wider Position & Final Vote Crunch

As a party, the Bloc has claimed its six priorities for the budget were overlooked and may oppose it collectively, though individual MPs could break ranks. The coming days will determine whether these targeted funding measures are enough to secure the budget’s survival.