Why was the contempt finding against Stephen Harper’s government historically significant?

The contempt finding against Stephen Harper’s government in March 2011 was historically significant because it marked the first time in history that the national government of a Commonwealth country had been found in contempt of Parliament.1

The finding occurred after the government failed to provide the House of Commons with sufficient budgetary information regarding the costs of several key proposals, including anticrime programs, corporate tax cuts, and plans to purchase fighter jets from the United States.12

This parliamentary committee finding led to a successful no-confidence vote, which passed 156–145 on March 25, 2011. The collapse of the government forced a general election, which resulted in the Conservatives moving from a minority government to a majority government.123