B.C. Liberals rocked by crisis back budget in tight vote as election nears

VICTORIA – British Columbia Premier Christy Clark’s government has survived a crucial budget vote in the legislature.

The Liberals managed to muster enough members to the legislature to get a45-38 vote in favour of the budget, which now proceeds to third reading.

Independent MLAs John Slater and Vicki Huntington voted with the Liberals.

The budget support vote was being billed as an endorsement of Clark’s embattled leadership during a particularly rough time leading up to the May 14 provincial election.

Clark’s Liberals have been rocked by the leaked release of a party strategy to court ethnic voters that has already resulted in the resignation of the premier’s former deputy chief of staff and the multiculturalism minister.

Liberal Kash Heed, who has been critical of the government’s ethnic strategy, was not in the legislature for the vote.