By Gazette Staff
March 11,2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Toronto Star reports that NDP MP Lori Idlout is crossing the floor to Mark Carney’s Liberals, leaving them two seats shy of forming a majority.
With three by-elections scheduled for April 13, including in two Liberal strongholds in Toronto, the Nunavut MP’s defection could set up a majority for the Carney government.
NDP MP Lori Idlout crosses the floor of the House of Commons to become a Mark Carney Liberal.
Idlout’s decision was announced late Tuesday night by interim NDP leader Don Davies, who called on her to “put the decision to voters.”
“We’re very disappointed that Lori Idlout has decided to join the Liberal caucus,” Davies said in a statement.
“The position of the New Democrats on floor crossing is long-standing and clear. We believe that when someone rejects the decision of their electors and wants to join another party, they should put that decision to their voters.”
In a democracy, something as important as the choice of party representation in Parliament must always remain with our constituents. We believe that should happen here.”
Idlout, who beat a Liberal opponent by just 41 votes in last year’s election, has previously said she was being courted by the Liberals but indicated she would not cross the floor.
Last Thursday, she spoke in support of NDP leadership contender Avi Lewis at a more-than-800-person Ottawa rally.
She is the fourth MP to cross the floor to the Liberals after the dramatic defections of former Conservatives Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux.
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While floor crossings in the Canadian Parliament are not new, I can find no evidence of floor crossings on this scale. Nor can I find any evidence of where multiple floor crossings were induced for the purpose of giving a minority government a majority mandate. Of course, we need to know what inducements the Liberals have offered. Was it just 4 MP’s betraying their constituents for their own self interest? Or did the Liberals promise more?
Keep it up, we are big trouble!
Looking like the snap election is off the table. You can check back in four or five years down the road.