Davies says NDP budget support is up to Carney after sharing priorities

Interim NDP leader Don Davies rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday, June 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA — Interim NDP leader Don Davies says his party wants to see the coming budget offer more investment in health care, affordable non-market housing and projects that create unionized jobs.

Speaking with reporters before question period Wednesday, Davies said he relayed the party’s priorities for the Nov. 4 federal budget to Prime Minister Mark Carney during a meeting last week.

“We communicated very clearly that we would not be able to support a budget that takes an austerity approach,” Davies said.

“We need to invest in Canadian communities, Canadian businesses, Canadian workers and Canadian infrastructure.”

Davies said he didn’t make pitches for specific projects or spending programs.

“We don’t have a shopping list. We’re not bargaining either in public or privately,” he said. “What we are doing as New Democrats is laying out our vision of what’s required for our country going forward very transparently.”

The Liberals need at least three opposition MPs to support the budget in order to avoid losing the confidence of the House and triggering an election.

When asked if the NDP is ready to go to the polls over the budget, Davies said it’s up to the minority Liberals to present a budget that can earn opposition support.

“That’s entirely up to Mr. Carney. I don’t think Canadians want an election right now,” he said.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said last month that he needs to see the government’s spending plans before deciding whether to support the budget.

The government has indicated there will be a “substantial” deficit in the budget as it looks to invest more in capital projects while cutting operational spending.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2025.