Idlout, NDP must take a stand on budget
Abstaining isn’t what Canadians elect MPs to do
Nunavut MP Lori Idlout, seen speaking in the House of Commons in 2021, says she wants to hear from the people she represents before deciding how to vote on this week’s federal budget. (File photo courtesy of ParlVU)
Canadians elect members of Parliament to go to Ottawa and make decisions on their behalf — not to sit on their hands.
That’s why Lori Idlout and other NDP MPs must make a choice, and either vote for or against the Liberal government’s budget. Abstaining isn’t what anyone elected them to do.
Some national media reported this week that abstaining from House of Commons votes on the budget is an option New Democratic Party MPs are considering — neither voting for nor against — when the crucial votes are held later in November.
Abstaining would give New Democrats the satisfaction of saying they didn’t back Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget without risking a defeat of the budget. Because budget bills are confidence votes, if the Liberals lose one it would trigger an election.
But abstaining has the same effect as voting for it. So take a stand, New Democrats! Accept that it’s the best Canada can do for now or throw caution to the wind and vote against it, knowing that defeating the budget would result in an election, just six months after the last one.
The NDP, having been reduced to just seven seats in April’s election and about to start the contest to find a new leader for the beleaguered political party, is in a very weak position to fight in a fall election.
In an interview with Nunatsiaq News, Idlout would not answer a direct question about whether she was one of the New Democrats thinking of abstaining. Before the final vote on the budget — likely to take place around Nov. 17 — she said her NDP colleagues will consult their constituents.
“We need to hear from the people we represent,” she said.
Well, Nunatsiaq readers, our comments section is open for business!
Please chime in, either at the end of this editorial or Wednesday’s story on Idlout’s reaction to the budget, about whether you want her to vote for or against the budget, what you think of the budget and whether Canadians want another election this year.
Carney dangled some enticing plums that look like they might have been included with the purpose of winning her vote.
The Arctic infrastructure fund will provide $1 billion over four years for transportation projects in the North — though that money will go quickly.
The Liberals earmarked some money available to help develop the Inuit Nunangat University though it’s not clear how much money, what it would be for, or when it would come.
Certainly, the budget’s lack of money for the Inuit Child First Initiative beyond March 2026 is an important concern for Inuit families in Nunavut and Nunavik.
But is that worth bringing down the government over? What are the chances a future Conservative government will breathe new life into the Inuit Child First Initiative?
MPs who want to see long-term funding of the Inuit Child First Initiative might be better off keeping the Liberal government alive but using their clout in a minority government situation to champion that cause.
There’s enough in this budget to warrant Idlout holding her nose and voting for it. And there are enough reasons to vote against it. But abstaining shouldn’t be an option.
On a pragmatic political level abstaining is the smart move, but fundamentally dishonest unless Idlout admits the reason for it wasn’t out of some principle but because the NDP can’t afford a federal election happen right now. As it happens, neither do the vast majority of MPs except Poilievre and some of his true believers who apparently thinks forcing a new election at Christmas will magically make people like him.
Poilievre is a likeable person. Period. If you think trudumb and con carney are likeable while they have knives in your back, hands in your pocket and destroying this country, I feel sorry for you. Further, abstaining is the cowards way out.
Pierre Poilievre likeable? You have a very strange idea of “likeable”.
Likeable? My cousin’s friend lived in his former riding of Carleton (note FORMER), and she could not get to a medically necessary appointment near the Rideau Centre during the Freedumb Convoy. When she called his office for help, she was told it was a price she had to pay for our freedom… leader at the time Erin O’Toole’s office did nothing to help.
So if you had a relative / loved one who could not get to a medical appointment, and get turned away by your MP because of his self-serving maple syrup MAGA interests… would he still be likeable to you? Stop drinking the kool-aid.
People don’t have to like Poilievre, they must only dislike the alternatives more. We’ve seen it happen once, will we get there again?
I do agree no MP should be allowed to abstain.
I also think if the NDP vote with the liberals they will lose the remaining seats they hold. Do they not realize the reason they lost so many seats is because they were attached at the hip to the liberals for 3 years. Why would anyone vote for them? They could just vote for the Liberals. If they voted nay it would show they had some gumption and independence from the Libs. They would regain seats and may even become a real party. Unions and actual workers who normally support the NDP will never forgive them for going along with this dud of a budget.
A changing of the guard changed nothing when the guard is paid by the business community monopolies and when people fall again for wanting to be in the majority camp. The uni-party wins, We lose.
Do your elected duty Lori! Canada cannot afford more years of Liberal deficit spending, increasing debt and interest costs, and risking downgrading Canada’s credit status, which WILL result in higher costs for every sector of our economy and our citizens!
Lori, don’t abstain. Vote for the budget to pass. If a Christmas election is called, you won’t be re-elected.
Vote for the budget to pass??? This budget gives the elite more tax breaks to buy planes and yachts while the middle class and young Canadian’s get hosed even deeper!
Liberals remain delusional.
You keep bringing them, and the NDP will keep knocking them down.
She’ll vote for it, because it still has an industrial carbon tax to make food and everything more expensive. Just like how she voted in the past to keep the carbon then sky is falling complain.
Ago-Food Analyicis Lab, Sylvain Charlebos, was a witness at a parliamentary committee this November. He mentioned their two recent studies found the industrial carbon tax increased the cost of wholesale food. And bad news. It’ll continue to make food prices increase in 2026.
Winnipeg’s NDP MP Leah Gazan, reintroduced her private member’s bill. It’s to fine and jail speech the NDP doesn’t like about residential schools. Nunavut’s NDP MP supported her first bill before the election dissolved it.
With Bill C-2, Bill C-8, and Bill C-9 moments away from being passed. And Bill C-63 highly talked about coming back…. Bills to impose harsh censorship and to strip freedom with fines and jail. Even eye-popping, simply done by a minister of the day.
Imagine the sweet talk and joint back scratching now going on for support for all the bills to pass. Swiftly sliding Canada into a police state by spring if not sooner.
My wish is that on November 17, 2025 Lori will choose, neither through vote or abstention, to be part of defeating the current government. No government is perfect but the Nation has hope that this government is somewhat better than the last. We are in tough times and no one party especially: the remnants of the NDP, the solitary Elizabeth May, the less than confident Bloc, the tattered & teetering Tories nor the slightly rejuvenated Liberals have any deep desire to fight another election in 2026. Madness!