Tories survive 1st confidence vote since Bernier affair

Despite a chorus of bad publicity over the Maxime Bernier affair, the Conservative government waltzed through a series of confidence votes on Monday.

Rows of Liberal benches remained vacant in a series of votes on controversial immigration reforms that are part of a larger budget implementation bill.

All opposition parties have excoriated the Conservatives for the immigration changes, but the Liberals continued their months-long practice of abstaining on key votes.

The Liberals were taunted and laughed at by their opponents as only a handful of their members showed up for a set of 114-83 votes that took the legislation one step closer to becoming law.

But Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion noted that the political gift of Bernier's resignation would never have happened if, several weeks ago, he'd brought down the government as some in his party urged him to do.

The foreign minister resigned after a string of negative stories about his relationship with an ex-girlfriend linked to criminal bikers.

He left cabinet last week after his ex revealed he'd forgotten sensitive NATO briefing documents at her house. The event made headlines in newspapers worldwide.

The immigration changes would place highly coveted skilled immigrants — such as doctors — on the fast-track into Canada. But it would become more difficult for others to get in.

The Liberals have called the bill an affront to Canadian values and suggested they will overturn the legislation if they win the next election.

The Commons voted three times Monday night — once on the larger finance bill, and twice more on a bundle of NDP amendments that would essentially gut the legislation.