(MENAFN) Canada's Liberal administration narrowly averted a federal election Monday after its CAN$141 billion ($100 billion) spending plan squeaked through Parliament by just two votes—170 to 168.

The hair-raising victory for Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals hinged on a Conservative legislator defecting from his caucus before the ballot and "crossing the floor" to join the Liberals.

With 343 parliamentary seats at stake, fierce debate consumed the chamber leading up to Monday's critical decision.

The vote's outcome remained uncertain until the final count, with passage requiring an absolute majority. Four lawmakers—two from the New Democratic Party and two Conservatives—opted not to cast ballots.

In a last-minute twist, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, who had remained uncommitted, secured environmental policy concessions during a Monday morning meeting with Carney. The guarantees proved decisive for May, who declared she would back the spending package—and subsequently did.

The final tally consumed approximately 20 minutes.

Don Davies, interim leader of the New Democratic Party, acknowledged the budget fell short of Canadian requirements but defended supporting its passage.

The budget "failed to meet the moment," Davies said, but "Canadians did not want an election only six months after the last one."

The Conservative Party voted against it because, said leader Pierre Poilievre, it would balloon the country's deficit.

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