Tuesday March 10, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON [Posted 8:17 on PT | Updated 9:12 & 11:05 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends [VICTORIA, BC]
The Liberals are one seat closer to a majority now that NDP MP Lori Idlout has decided to cross the floor to join the Carney Liberals.
“Nunavut and the North are central to Canada’s future, and the rights and aspirations of Indigenous peoples must be at the heart of Canada’s democracy. I have devoted my life to this essential challenge,” said Idlout in a statement from the Liberal Party this evening.
“I have been hearing clearly from Nunavummiut that this is a crucial moment for Nunavut and for all of Canada,” said Idlout.
“With new threats against our sovereignty and pressures on the wellbeing of people throughout the North, we need a strong and ambitious government that makes decisions with Nunavut — not only about Nunavut. The success of that work needs all of our voices,” she said.
“That is why after much personal reflection and encouragement from my community, family, and supporters, I have decided to join the government caucus and to work alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney to build the better future that Nunavummiut are counting on,” said Idlout.
“Our North is where climate change is felt first, where new threats to our security and sovereignty are growing, and where Canada’s responsibilities to our people are among its greatest. As a Member of Parliament, I have always worked to bring Nunavut’s priorities into national focus: especially ensuring the immediate needs of Nunavut are addressed and so that we can confront the high cost of living, the urgent need for housing and food security, the importance of protecting our land and waters, and the need for policies that reflect the culture, language, and rights of Inuit and Canadians all throughout the North,” said Idlout in the Liberal Party statement.
Idlout identifies Carney as Canada’s first prime minister “from the North”. Carney was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories and grew up in Edmonton.
NDP reaction:
“We’re very disappointed that Lori Idlout has decided to join the Liberal caucus,” said Don Davies in a news release this evening. The NDP release scooped a Liberal announcement that eventually came a few hours later.
“The position of the New Democrats on the floor crossing is longstanding and clear,” said Davies in the official news release this evening. “We believe that when someone rejects the decision of their electors and wants to join another party, they should put that decision to the voters,” said Davies in the news release.
Idlout was first elected in 2021 as the MP for Nunavut, re-elected in 2024.
NDP leadership race:
Just earlier today, Davies told Island Social Trends in a phone interview that he was glad he had stepped up to be interim leader of the NDP after their number of seats was decimated from 24 to seven in the April 2025 federal election. Davies said that taking on the interim leadership was a step he realized would keep him out of the next full leadership race.
“I was prepared to take the consequences of that,” said Davies about taking on the interim leadership, which he took on just one week after Jagmeet Singh’s election-night resignation.
Most parties require an interim leader to take such a declaration so they are not in a favoured position to then become the next leader. There are currently five candidates in the NDP leadership race (for which voting has begun); a leader will be announced on March 29.
Earlier today Davies told Island Social Trends that the current NDP leadership race is “exciting”, that it has created a lot of energy for the party and has seen record fundraising. “There’s a real sense of regeneration,” says Davies who has been an MP in BC for 18 years (first elected in 2008).
Obviously Idlout did not think so, or was promised more for Nunavut by the Liberals in ways that she could not achieve by being in the seven-member NDP.
The timing of her departure to the Liberals may also indicate her disinterest in staying with the NDP party in its fledgling rebuilding phase.
Two seats shy of majority:
This now puts the Liberals at 170 seats, just two short of a majority in the 343-seat House of Commons.
There are three by-elections set for April 13, where if the Liberals win two seats they will achieve a majority.
Two of the ridings in the April 13 by-election are considered safe for the Liberals — one formerly held for a long time by Bill Blair (Scarborough Southwest) and the other by Chrystia Freeland (University-Rosedale).
Former Nunavut Premier is on board:
“I’ve seen firsthand that Prime Minister Carney understands the strategic importance of the Arctic. Having Lori in this new role is a significant win for our region’s self-determination,” said former Nunavut Premier PJ Akeeagok in a social media post this evening.
“Upigivagit, Lori. I trust your vision and fully support this move for our people,” said Akeeagok in his post on LinkedIn.
Upigivagit translates from Inuktitut to “I praise you” or “I admire you”.
===== RELATED:
- Carney heading to Norway & UK: Arctic defence & trade (March 9, 2026)
- Three April 13 federal by-elections could produce Liberal majority (March 8, 2026)
- Why it matters who leads the NDP going forward (February 22, 2026)
- Election results annulled in one Quebec federal riding over special ballot delivery error (February 13, 2026)
- Liberals aim for majority in 2026 House of Commons (December 21, 2025)
- Federal NDP chooses Don Davies as interim leader (May 7, 2025)
- Carney in Nunavut to declare Arctic strength and security (March 18, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: FEDERAL NDP | BY-ELECTIONS