(MENAFN) Canada’s Liberal administration narrowly passed its proposed CAN$141 billion ($100 billion) budget on Monday, securing a victory by just two votes and preventing the nation from facing the upheaval of a federal election.

The win was razor-thin – 170 to 168 – for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals. The outcome might have been different if a Conservative member had not left their party to “cross the floor” and support the Liberals ahead of the vote.

With 343 seats in Parliament, the debate leading up to Monday’s decision was intense, with discussions swinging in multiple directions.

The vote itself was precarious, requiring every possible supporter to achieve the necessary majority. Two New Democratic Party members and two Conservatives chose not to participate in the vote, adding to the uncertainty.

In a dramatic turn, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, previously undecided, met with Carney on Monday morning.

He pledged certain environmental measures, convincing May to back the budget, which she ultimately did.

The final tally took roughly 20 minutes to complete.

Don Davies, the interim leader of the New Democratic Party, remarked that while the budget did not fully address Canadians’ needs, passing it was the correct decision.

He stated that the budget “failed to meet the moment,” but noted that “Canadians did not want an election only six months after the last one.”

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