Nunavut MP says 'it wasn't just one thing' that made her cross the floor to the Liberals

OTTAWA — Nunavut MP Lori Idlout said “it wasn’t just one thing” that caused her to cross the floor from the NDP to the governing Liberals but “a variety of many things” that made the move appealing.

Idlout spoke to reporters on Tuesday morning before attending her first Liberal caucus meeting, just hours after news broke on Monday night that she would be crossing the floor.

“I’m very honoured to be welcoming Lori Idlout to our caucus,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney, before the Liberal caucus meeting. “We’ve had conversations about what we can do, both large and small, in Nunavut. Large projects but also helping everyone get ahead.”

Along with the statement, Carney posted a photo on social media of Idlout and himself sitting together.

Some NDP MPs briefly responded to reporters’ questions as they arrived at a party caucus meeting on Tuesday morning.

“Right now Canada needs the NDP more than any other time in our history, I’ll tell you that. Canadians are about to learn that real quick,” said NDP MP Gord Johns.

“We will carry on. And the NDP will fight on,” said NDP MP Jenny Kwan.

The new Liberal MP could secure the party a majority government if it wins two Toronto byelections on April 13 that the Liberals are heavily favoured in. Another byelection, scheduled for the same day in Terrebonne, Quebec, could give the Liberals some extra electoral cushion, but it will be a close race with the Bloc Québécois.

Following his party’s caucus meeting, Interim NDP Leader Don Davies was pressed by reporters about what Idlout’s crossing means for the future of the NDP. The party now has just six seats in the House of Commons and its last remaining Quebec MP Alexandre Boulerice, is also considering a departure for provincial politics in Quebec.

“I’m becoming increasingly concerned by the way that Mr. Carney is trying to stitch together a majority government in this country,” said Davies, sidestepping the question. “Once again, to us, whether or not there’s a majority government is fundamentally a decision of the Canadian people at the ballot box, and it should happen that way, not through backroom deals cut behind closed doors in Ottawa.”

Davies added that Idlout’s decision to cross the floor was fundamentally undemocratic.

Liberal MPs defended the government’s strategy of achieving a majority with floor-crossings rather than a general election on Tuesday.

“If Canadians want to have a national conversation about this in broad numbers then I think it’s certainly appropriate for us to have that conversation, but this is consistent with our parliamentary traditions and it is up to members of Parliament individually who are elected by the people in their respective ridings to determine what they want to do, that they believe is in the best interests of those that they represent,” said Liberal MP Ben Carr.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre echoed Davies’ position, accusing the Liberals of making backroom deals to secure a majority that voters rejected.

“This majority will allow the Liberals to keep exploding the debt and the cost of living, to block our natural resources, and to leave criminals at large,” said Poilievre, in a post on X.

Idlout, who has represented Nunavut since 2021, told the National Post back in January that there is a need for further investments in the Arctic to secure its sovereignty, including in infrastructure, housing and telecommunications.

Industry Minister Melanie Joly told reporters Wednesday morning that the prime minister will show in the coming days and months how important the northern region is to Canada and the world.

“And we’re putting our money where our mouth is,” she said. “I’m convinced that our new colleague from Nunavut wants to get involved and show how much this is a priority for her people and for her as well.”

National Post

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