In order to gain the necessary support of the New Democratic Party (NDP) the budget was amended (Bill C-48) and given assent three weeks later following considerable debate.

The Air Travel Complaints Commissioner was abolished, and foreign aid to Thailand, Malaysia, and all countries now in the European Union was ended.

Party leader Stephen Harper described it as "better than expected", and described its focus on tax cuts and defence spending as being in line with Conservative policy.

However, Harper later changed his position on the budget, and his party joined with the NDP and the Bloc Québécois in the largest abstention in Canadian history.

The Bloc Québécois and party leader Gilles Duceppe, who were demanding an overhaul to employment insurance and the elimination of the fiscal imbalance, voted against the budget.

Leader Jack Layton agreed with Harper that it was a "conservative budget" and was especially critical of the corporate tax cuts and the limited new funding for social programs.

Prior to the second reading the political situation changed dramatically due to Jean Brault's explosive testimony at the Gomery Inquiry.

This amendment called for a reduction of the foreseen corporate tax cuts and $4.6 billion in additional spending on social programs.

Two Conservative MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador, Loyola Hearn and Norman Doyle, were also pressured by provincial premier Danny Williams to vote in favour of the budget, as it included the provisions of the government's recent Atlantic Accords.

[13] After Stronach's move, the government could count on the same number of votes as the opposition: the Liberals, the NDP and independent MP Carolyn Parrish supported the budget, while the Conservatives and the Bloc opposed it.

[14] Conservative leader and Prime Minister at the time of the allegations Stephen Harper denied that the party bribed Cadman.

On June 14, a series of 16 votes were held pertaining to the budget: one for concurring in the committee report for Bill C-43 and dozens of amendments and other motions.

Then, in a late-night session, after several Conservative members had already left the house, the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc voted to invoke closure on the debate.

The outcome upset Conservative MPs and left the same-sex marriage bill as the only major business to be dealt with during the extended session in the House.