Nunavut MP says she won’t cross the floor to join Liberals ‘at this point’

Nunavut's MP says she has no plans right now to join the federal Liberal Party.

“I have decided at this point that I can't,” Lori Idlout told CBC News in an interview on Monday. “I've definitely been asked to consider it.”

The NDP MP would not say who specifically has asked her to consider crossing the floor, but said they include both Liberal Party members and some of her own constituents.

"It's definitely weighed heavily on me, and I've had so many conversations with people and I just appreciate everyone who I've talked with," she said.

"What they've all said is that whatever I decide, it will be what I think is best for Nunavummiut."

Two other MPs — Chris d'Entremont and Michael Ma — recently left the Conservative Party to cross the floor and join the Liberals. That's brought the Liberals to being just one seat shy of forming a majority government.

An emailed statement from the office of Idlout’s neighbouring MP in the N.W.T., Liberal cabinet minister Rebecca Alty, said Alty has not approached Idlout about crossing the floor.

“Over the last year, Minister Alty has met with leaders and representatives throughout the North, including MP Idlout. These discussions have focused on identifying shared priorities and practical ways of working together to deliver results for Northerners,” the email adds.

CBC News also contacted the Liberal Party to confirm whether the party was in talks with Idlout about crossing the floor. A spokesperson responded in an email saying that the Liberals are "ready to work collaboratively with parliamentarians from all parties to build a stronger Canada."

Idlout said she was surprised by d'Entremont's and Ma's decisions to cross the floor last year. She also said she wouldn’t be shocked if someone else followed in the months ahead.

“Being asked to cross the floor definitely forced me to think a lot about how I can continue to do my job best for Nunavummiut,” Idlout said. 

Idlout won the 2025 federal election with just 77 more votes than Liberal candidate Kilikvak Kabloona.

She said a major part of her job is highlighting when her territory is not being respected, or not getting the resources it needs.

“Canada's policies aren't necessarily to invest in the people so that we can thrive,” Idlout said. “And when we think about who's been in government since 1999 for Nunavut, it's been both Liberal and Conservative governments.”