Nunavut MP Lori Idlout crosses floor leaving NDP for Liberal party

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout has crossed the floor, leaving the NDP to join the governing Liberal party weeks ahead of three byelections.

The move means the Liberal government is a step closer to a majority government.

Idlout was praised by Prime Minister Mark Carney as one of Canada’s greatest constituency MPs.

“Very down to earth and we’ve had conversations about what we can do both large and small in Nunavut,” said Carney.

Idlout says a number of factors led to her decision.

“It wasn’t just one thing that happened, there are a variety of many things that have allowed me to really reflect on this,” she said.

In a statement from the Liberal Party, Idlout says threats to Canadian sovereignty and the needs of northern communities led her to join a government that can address those issues.

“Mark Carney is our first Prime Minister from the North, and at this turning point in our history, I am ready to work with him to build a strong future for Nunavut and for all of Canada,” said Idlout.

She says staying with the NDP would be a betrayal to people in Nunavut because as the territory’s only MP and a critical opposition voice on Arctic issues, she can now bring that perspective to the government’s decision-making table.

The interim leader of Idlout’s former party called the decision disappointing, saying if she wanted to switch parties she should have taken that position to her constituents and asked for a new mandate.

“To us, the decision of voters at the ballot box is a sacred trust,” said Don Davies, interim federal NDP leader. “I’m becoming increasingly concerned by the way that Mr. Carney is trying to stitch together a majority government.”

Davies wouldn’t address questions about whether his party’s weakness, with no permanent leader, only six seats and little ability to drive the legislative agenda, helped drive Idlout to the Liberals.

Adding to the tension, the questions were asked while Davies stood in front of Quebec’s only NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, who Le Journal de Montreal reported is considering jumping ship to run provincially. Davies then abruptly ended the press conference just two minutes after it began.

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also condemned the crossing, accusing Carney of using back-room deals to seize a majority.

The Liberals now have 170 seats, just two shy of a majority. Three federal byelections are scheduled for April 13 and two of them are in Toronto ridings where they have easily won in the last election.

READ MORE: Another Conservative MP crosses the floor to join Liberal caucus