Carney moves closer to a parliamentary majority after MP joins Liberals

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published March 11, 2026

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Prime Minister Mark Carney moved closer to a parliamentary majority after Lori Idlout, the MP for Nunavut who was elected under the New Democratic Party banner, crossed the floor to join the governing Liberals, lifting the party to 170 seats in the 343-member House of Commons.

That leaves the government just two seats short of the 172 needed for a majority, strengthening its position in Ottawa at a time when Canada is dealing with major issues tied to trade, defence and its relationship with the United States.

The move carries added weight because it follows a series of parliamentary defections that have gradually improved the Liberals’ standing in the House. Reuters reported that Idlout’s switch marks the fourth opposition defection to the Liberals since November, increasing the chances that the government could move closer to a more secure majority.

The shift could also reduce the government’s reliance on case-by-case support from other parties to pass legislation, especially with by-elections approaching in vacant seats. It comes amid a broader political realignment in Parliament as economic pressure, trade uncertainty, northern sovereignty and national security remain high on Ottawa’s agenda.