The Liberals pushed the federal budget bill through the Senate on Thursday after realizing delays could cost unemployed workers Employment Insurance payments.
The decision marked a political about-face for the Grits, who had previously rebuffed Tory calls to fast-track the fiscal document.
However, Leader Michael Ignatieff conceded that holding the document in the Senate for two weeks would have resulted in a loss of EI benefits for Canadians.
"I'm very grateful to the Senate," Ignatieff said Thursday evening.
"They showed Canadians why we need a senate and they also showed that no Liberal will ever stand between a Canadian who stands in need of Employment Insurance and the benefits they need."
Ignatieff's comments come after Liberal senators discovered that the budget backdated an EI extension before the start of the fiscal year on April 1.
Earlier on Thursday, Ignatieff accused the Tories in Parliament of burying a fiscal trap in the budget.
"Which is it Mr. Speaker, incompetence or heartless political gamesmanship?"
But Prime Minister Stephen Harper shot back, saying the Liberals have tried to "cash in" on bad economic news while offering little productive suggestions in return.
The Senate passed the budget implementation bill with a vote of 50-4. It will likely receive royal assent late on Thursday.
With files from The Canadian Press
