Prime Minister Paul Carney’s first budget has earned narrow approval from Parliament.

The approval keeps the Liberals in power and clears the way for billions of dollars worth of new government investments in housing, infrastructure and development-oriented projects.

MPs voted 170-168 in favour of the budget as some members of opposition parties abstained. The decision effectively kept the minority government in power, because budgets are automatically classified as confidence vote. If the budget had been rejected, the government would have been defeated in accordance with parliamentary custom.

Manufacturers, homebuilders and other groups have praised Carney’s emphasis on new investments. But First Nations and small businesses have felt left out as the Ottawa seeks to offset the effects of U.S. tariffs on Canada’s weakening economy. The budget includes $141 million in new spending over the next five years.

The finance package includes a proposed $50-billion Local Infrastructure Fund, which will include money for housing, transportation and healthcare-related infrastructure projects.

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