After all the build-up, the artificial drama of whether or not the government was going to fall, all of the stories written about the various possibilities of what might happen, the final vote came down 170-168, the government surviving the day. Deciding this was the fact that Elizabeth May got the assurances she was looking for in order to vote for the budget (she hopes not naively), and there were abstentions—two from the Conservatives, two from the NDP.

There was never going to be an election. Nobody wanted one, and it would very likely go badly for a least two of the opposition parties, but they all still had to look like they were talking tough (and swinging their dicks), but in reality, the Conservatives were engineering it so that they would ensure it would pass. Not only were Matt Jeneroux and Shannon Stubbs not voting, the latter on medical leave, but it appears that Andrew Scheer and Scott Reid camped out in the lobby behind the Chamber when the vote started, and only when things were wrapping up and it was clear the government was going to win, did they rush into the Chamber at the end, and claim that they couldn’t vote remotely so that they could record their votes as being against. (It’s one more argument why remote voting should be abolished, so that these kinds of shenanigans don’t happen).

Of course, as soon as this was over, the Conservatives started recording videos for their socials to denounce the NDP and the Greens for propping up the government, when they were doing just the same and were prepared to go further, because they know full well that an election right now is very likely to go badly for them, but they have to perform for their audience all the time. And sure, it’s fun to watch people call them out over this partisan bluster, but we shouldn’t even be having it, but everyone has to keep putting on a show for their chosen audience, because this is the hell that is politics in the era of the attention economy.

Speaking of today's artificial drama (and partisan dick-swinging…)

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-11-17T23:18:51.205Z

Ukraine Dispatch

Ukraine has allegedly attacked power plants in the Russian-controlled areas of Donetsk. Ukraine has signed a deal to obtain 100 Rafale warplanes from France, in addition to the 100 Gripens they bought. AP profiles Ukrainian energy workers who have to restore power after Russian attacks on energy systems.

Good reads:

• Mark Carney held a virtual meeting with premiers described as “productive,” with some more progress on interprovincial trade barriers announced.
• Carney will be meeting with the King and Queen of Sweden today for the first part of their Canadian trip (before he jets off to Abu Dhabi after the state dinner).
• Actor Richard Gere was on Parliament Hill to talk about Tibet, and call on the Canadian government to take more action.
• Senior foreign affairs officials called for the government to insist on a public commitment from India about accountability as part of trade talks. (Still waiting…)
• The budget is making cuts to the Canada Student Grant programme.
• The programme to find employment for skilled refugee claimants is facing ballooning wait times, frustrating employers and claimants.
• Germany’s navy will purchase Lockheed Martin Canadian combat management systems for their ships, for over $1 billion.
• The Bloc are contending that there was insufficient consultation and inadequate mitigation for fish habitats with the plans to expand the Port of Montreal.
• All five NDP leadership candidates have met their first fundraising deadlines, and will be on stage in Montreal for the next debate. (How bad will the French be?)
• Doug Ford is defending his “skills development” slush fund, and the minister who has been funnelling that money to friendly labour groups.
• Alberta has tabled their legislation to add citizenship markers to drivers’ licences, because they really want to create more problems for themselves.
• Susan Delacourt makes a few observations about all parties’ weaknesses in the wake of the budget vote.
• Althia Raj points out that while Carney won his first game of political chicken, it’s odd that he hasn’t built bridges across the aisle. (Is it really, though?)

Odds and ends:

Minority parliaments, in theory: Parties forced to work together, government held to account, real compromise, substantive accomplishment.Minority parliaments, in reality: IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ELECTION THIS WEEK? WHAT ABOUT NEXT WEEK?

— Aaron Wherry (@aaronwherry.bsky.social) 2025-11-17T17:49:10.488Z

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