OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faces a crucial test on Monday when Parliament votes on his first budget, where a defeat could trigger a second federal election in less than a year.

Carney’s Liberals are a handful of seats short of a majority in the 343-seat House of Commons, which means they either need some opposition legislators to back the budget or abstain. The House is due to vote at 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time (2345 GMT).

On paper Carney looks to be safe given that the left-leaning New Democrats, who lost almost three quarters of their seats in the April election that brought Carney to power, last month indicated they would not bring him down. The party is short of funds and does not have a permanent leader.

The Globe and Mail newspaper on Monday cited a senior L

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