For the third time since November, Liberal MPs will kick off their weekly caucus meeting by welcoming a new addition to their lineup: now former New Democrat MP Lori Idlout, who, as Canadian Press reports, has officially joined Team Carney, putting the minority government on track to securing a working majority in the House of Commons  — if, that is, the party can pull off a clean sweep of the trio of byelections set to be held next month.

The decision to switch parties came after “much personal reflection and encouragement from my community, family and supporters,” Idlout noted in a statement issued in conjunction with the Liberal Party.

“Nunavut and the North are central to Canada’s future, and the rights and aspirations of Indigenous peoples must be at the heart of Canada’s democracy,” she added.

“I have been hearing clearly from Nunavummiut that this is a crucial moment for Nunavut and for all of Canada. With new threats against our sovereignty and pressures on the wellbeing of people throughout the North, we need a strong and ambitious government that makes decisions with Nunavut — not only about Nunavut. The success of that work needs all of our voices.”

Shortly before the official announcement went out, interim New Democrat leader Don Davies put out a statement acknowledging her departure.

“We’re very disappointed that (Idlout) has decided to join the Liberal caucus,” he noted.

“The position of the New Democrats on floor crossing is longstanding 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.”

Not surprisingly, Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to join his fellow Liberals at this morning’s closed-door confab (9:30 a.m.), and will also be in his front-and-centre seat in the House of Commons this afternoon, according to his office.

He’s also slated to “deliver remarks” at a closed-to-media St. Patrick’s Day event somewhere in the capital later this evening.  (6 p.m.)

Back in the chamber, MPs are set to spend the afternoon going over the fine print of legislation to implement a new trade deal with Indonesia, which was reported back from committee last month with several amendments, including new reporting requirements for the minister.

Before that gets underway, however, New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan’s backbench bid to tighten the rules on Canadian arms exports will go to a make-or-break second reading vote that will determine whether it proceeds to committee for further review.

Although the government has signalled that it opposes the bill, “more than a dozen Liberal MPs” may be preparing to support it, according to CBC News, although both the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois have expressed concerns over the potential impact on the Canadian defence sector.

Also on the radar: Justice Minister Sean Fraser’s proposal to expand the federal anti-hate crime laws is poised to clear clause-by-clause review at the JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS committee later today after the Bloc Québécois teamed up with the government to back a motion to force an end to the Conservative-driven filibuster that has effectively blocked the bill for weeks. (4:30 p.m.)

As iPolitics’ own Marco Vigliotti explains, as per the terms of the motion, which was adopted yesterday, the committee is now under House order to wrap up its work on the bill this afternoon, with a two-sitting-day deadline to report it back to the House of Commons.

Elsewhere on the committee circuit: NATIONAL DEFENCE members will get a briefing on the ongoing conflict in Iran “and the situation in the Middle East,” courtesy of senior officials from both National Defence and Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. (4:30 p.m.)

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