Saturday January 24, 2026 | RANKIN INLET, NUNAVUT [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Before heading back to Ottawa for the upcoming session of the House of Commons, several New Democrat MPs spent a few days in Rankin Inlet to meet with Nunavummiut and hear directly from them about their priorities.
The NDP MPs met with community organizations and local unions.
The NDP — currently with seven MPs — says it’s the first time any federal party has held a national caucus meeting in Nunavut.
“I am proud to welcome my NDP colleagues to Nunavut, and for them to see firsthand the issues northerners are facing,” said NDP MP for Nunavut, Lori Idlout.
She hosted three MPs whose ridings are in BC: NDP Leader Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway), Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East) and Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni).
“New Democrats are committed to hearing from community members and working with them to bring solutions to Ottawa,” said Idlout in an NDP news release on January 19.
“Throughout the country, families are facing a lack of affordable homes, high cost of food, and a need for more family- and community-sustaining jobs,” said Davies.
“Those challenges are especially significant in the North. It’s time that northerners had a real partner in Ottawa, fighting to address the issues that matter to them,” says Davies.
Preparing for the next session:
Most MPs met with constituents over the holidays (in December and the first three weeks of January) to learn more about concerns in their ridings.
Prime Minister Mark Carney held a two-day cabinet retreat January 22 to 23 in preparation for the upcoming House of Commons session. Headline topics were affordability, the economy and security.
Seats in the House of Commons:
The 45th Parliament of Canada continues with the Winter/Spring Session starting Monday January 26 when all MPs return to the House of Commons after winter break.
Current standings in the House still have the Liberals operating with a minority (170 of 343 seats), about which last month Davies remarked that the Liberals behave as if they have a majority.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has given the impression that he could form a Liberal majority this session. A few potential floor-crossers (from the Conservatives to the Liberals) could come forward in the next few days or weeks.
Strategic timing for floor-crossing would be as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addresses his party members in Calgary January 29 to 31.
===== RELATED:
- Federal cabinet Winter 2026 planning on economy, affordability, security (January 21, 2026)
- Elizabeth May MP local community meetings before next House of Commons session (January 9, 2026)
- Chrystia Freeland resigning as MP to take on advisory role in Ukraine (January 5, 2026)
- Liberals aim for majority in 2026 House of Commons (December 21, 2025)
- Carney Liberals still don’t realize they are a minority government, says NDP (December 10, 2026)
- NEWS SECTIONS: FEDERAL NDP | 45th PARLIAMENT of CANADA