Paul Martin's Liberal government won the much-anticipated budget confidence votes in the House of Commons last night, ensuring the regime will continue to govern for at least a little bit longer.

The vote came down to a 152-152 tie with the Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, having to decide the vote.

Milliken followed parliamentary precedent, not his Liberal party ties, and cast his vote in favour of letting the bill go back to the committee for the House to further debate and decide its fate at a later date.

In the end, it was British Columbia independent MP Chuck Cadman who decided the outcome of the drama by voting with the Liberal-NDP alliance.

Had Cadman voted with David Kilgour, another independent MP, and the Conservative-Bloc Quebecois alliance, the government would have been defeated.

'Everyone voted with their parties,' Yukon MP Larry Bagnell said in an interview this morning. 'It was the independents that made the decision.'

Bagnell said Thursday he didn't know how the vote would turn out, but added that the atmosphere was 'exciting.'

Three Yukoners were able to get much sought-after tickets for the House's visitors' gallery to the watch the vote unfold.

Sandra Roach of Whitehorse, who is currently doing a work placement with Indian and Northern Affairs in Ottawa, John Bailey of Whitehorse and Teslin elder Pearl Keenan were able to get tickets from Bagnell's Ottawa office.

Bagnell said he spoke with Keenan, mother of former Yukon NDP cabinet minister Dave Keenan, before going into the House, and she told him, 'You have to win.'

The conversation left him with the confidence that the Liberals would win the vote, he said.

Bagnell was in the Yukon last weekend and there wasn't a single person who told him he or she wanted an election now, he said. Canadians don't seem to be ready for an election, he added.

It hasn't yet been a year since the Martin government came to power.

The atmosphere following the historic vote was 'electric,' Bagnell said.

Both the Conservatives and the Liberals later retreated to their caucus rooms and, in another first, cameras and the media were permitted to attend the usually private meetings.

Martin congratulated his party members and told them of the work they have ahead of them in putting their budget to work.

'It was the most inspiring speech I've ever heard the prime minister give,' said Bagnell.

He said he hopes the government will now be able to continue to move forward on issues such as the Northern Strategy, providing more money to seniors, affordable housing, child care programs and Aboriginal Roundtable discussions all projects touched on in the federal budget.

'I think Stephen Harper said they (the Conservatives) will let Parliament get back to work for a while,' he said.

However, it's possible another confidence vote could still be on the horizon for the spring, he added.

The budget has now been sent back to the finance committee, which is controlled by the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois. It will have to go through a third reading before it can receive royal assent.

There is also an upcoming opposition day, with some confidence motions on the agenda.

Bagnell said he thinks Harper understands that Canadians don't want to see a summer election and the issue won't likely be raised again until fall.

Bagnell will be back in the Yukon while the House is recessed for the next 10 days. He will be visiting Dawson City and Old Crow.