(MENAFN) Canada’s ruling Liberal Party narrowly avoided a political crisis on Monday, successfully passing its proposed CAN$141 billion ($100 billion) budget by the slimmest of margins. The outcome ensures that the country will not face a snap federal election.

The vote ended 170 to 168 in favor of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, a result that could have tipped the other way if a Conservative member had not broken ranks and joined the Liberals at the last minute. With 343 seats in Parliament, the debate leading up to the vote was intense and closely contested.

The passage of the budget depended on securing just enough support, complicated by the fact that two New Democratic Party members and two Conservatives chose not to cast their votes.

Green Party leader Elizabeth May, previously undecided, met with the Prime Minister on Monday morning and was promised certain environmental initiatives. Satisfied with the concessions, May declared she would support the budget, and she followed through on her commitment. The entire voting process was completed in roughly 20 minutes.

Don Davies, interim leader of the New Democratic Party, acknowledged that the budget “failed to meet the moment,” yet stressed that “Canadians did not want an election only six months after the last one.” He added that, despite shortcomings, passing the budget was the right choice.

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party opposed the budget, with leader Pierre Poilievre arguing that it would “balloon the country’s deficit,” according to reports.

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