TORONTO -- Ontario's minority Liberal government easily survived a confidence vote on the provincial budget today with help from the New Democrats.
The vote on the budget motion, not the actual budget bill, passed 65-to-36 with only the Progressive Conservatives opposed.
The motion states only that "the house approves in general the budgetary policy of the government," but it was a matter of confidence that could have triggered an election if it had been defeated.
After securing several concessions from the government, the NDP agreed to vote with the Liberals to make sure the budget passes.
The government wants the vote on the actual budget bill itself concluded before the summer recess scheduled to begin June 7, and already knows it will again get the NDP's support.
The Conservatives accuse the Liberals of buying the NDP's budget vote by promising to cut auto insurance premiums, increase welfare rates and spend more on home care services.
