The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge Raj and Russo -- The Liberals Survive, What Happens Now?
Nov 18, 2025
Rob Russo, a political journalist from The Economist, and Althia Raj, a Toronto Star reporter, dive into the recent budget vote that kept Mark Carney's government afloat by a narrow margin. They dissect the strategic concessions made to gain support and debate whether the opposition parties are now weaker as a result. The conversation touches on the potential impact of a coalition amid the fragile dynamics in Parliament and assesses how Carney has fostered relations with premiers. Insights into upcoming political maneuvers keep the discussion lively and engaging.
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Careful Vote Operations Won The Day
- The Liberals kept full control by ensuring every MP turned out to vote and by courting pivotal support like Elizabeth May's.
- Surviving the confidence vote required meticulous vote operations rather than major concessions on the budget.
Budget Gifts Without Policy Shift
- The budget included targeted funding for opposition-held ridings without changing the government's fiscal framework.
- Elizabeth May extracted a public commitment on Paris targets that gives her a future accountability point.
Opposition Theater Hid Election Aversion
- Opposition parties privately avoided a December election despite public posturing and last-minute theatrical votes.
- The Conservatives clearly preferred to prevent an election and used procedural choreography to do so.