Liberal members of Parliament expressed concerns Wednesday about the possibility of a second federal election this year. They emphasized that Canadians are not eager to head to the polls again, especially with the government warning it may not have enough support to pass the upcoming budget.

Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon accused opposition parties of making unrealistic demands, suggesting they are signaling a lack of support for the minority Liberal government. This situation has raised the prospect of a potential election around Christmas, leaving Canadians uncertain about their political future.

Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski from Thunder Bay—Rainy River stated, "I think we’re tired of elections. We want a government that actually functions. I think it would be very premature to have an election just because we could have an election." St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle echoed this sentiment, asserting, "I can assure you that Canadians don’t want an election right now." He warned that if opposition parties force an election, they risk being blamed by Canadians for the timing.

MacKinnon accused Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of attempting to instigate a "Christmas election" to divert attention from leadership scrutiny within his party. Poilievre did not clarify on Tuesday whether the Conservatives would vote against the budget, which would trigger a confidence vote for the Liberals.

With 169 seats in the House of Commons, the Liberals need support from another party or at least three MPs to avoid a budget defeat. Poilievre reiterated his call for an "affordable budget," which he defined as one that includes tax cuts and caps the federal deficit at $42 billion. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has projected that the federal deficit could reach approximately $70 billion by 2025-2026.

MacKinnon criticized Poilievre's proposal, stating it would effectively eliminate federal revenue. Meanwhile, multiple Conservative MPs indicated that the question of a potential election is one for the Liberals to resolve.

Poilievre is scheduled to hold an event in Toronto on Thursday, dubbed the "No More Sacrifices Youth Event," referencing comments made by Finance Minister Mark Carney about the need for Canadians to prepare for sacrifices in the upcoming budget. The Conservative Party has also sent out fundraising messages suggesting that Canadians might face an election due to the current Liberal government.

Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne addressed reporters, asserting that Canadians recognize the challenges the government faces amid global uncertainty. He emphasized the need for generational investments and acknowledged the necessity of making difficult choices. Champagne stated, "People understand that we need to do a number of things, make government more efficient, adopt technology, we need to make sure that we have a sustainable level when it comes to the public service."