Avi Lewis, elected to lead Canada’s New Democratic Party, promises ‘NDP comeback’ | Canada

Canada’s controversial New Democratic Party (NDP) has elected former broadcaster and self-proclaimed socialist Avi Lewis as its new leader as it looks to rebuild after a devastating federal election last year that saw it lose official party status.

A record number of members voted in the three-day NDP leadership convention, giving Lewis a first-ballot victory that underscored widespread support. Lewis vowed to turn the “tremendous momentum” of the convention into an “NDP comeback.”

Speaking to supporters after his victory on Sunday, the 58-year-old documentary filmmaker and former television host pledged to center the party around the pursuit of equality, promising higher wealth taxes, green energy and tuition-free education.

“We can already hear the cries of the establishment: ‘But how will you pay for all this?’ “It is time, way past time, to properly tax the corporations and billionaires who have ridden a tidal wave of profits while the 99% suffer and struggle,” he told a cheering crowd in Winnipeg.

Lewis took aim at the moral failings of the governing Liberals, telling energized supporters that an NDP government would challenge the dominance of oil companies and “grocery baron(s)” who enjoy billions in profits.

“The NDP will start winning again because we will become that beacon for the 99%, illuminating the darkening skies of these terrifying times with the energizing light of collective struggle.”

Lewis, the grandson of former party leader David Lewis and son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis, was joined on stage by supporters and his wife, the award-winning author Naomi Klein.

He faces a daunting set of tasks to rebuild a party that has just six MPs, poor polling and about C$13 million in debt. That effort is likely to be complicated by the fact that he has never held political office and does not hold a seat in parliament.

In winning the leadership convention, he beat runner-up MP Heather McPherson, union organizer Rob Ashton, British Columbia city councilor Tanille Johnston and farmer Tony McQuail.

The Prime Minister, Mark Carneyand Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre each issued statements congratulating Lewis and saying they looked forward to working with the newly appointed leader. Both Carney’s Liberals and Tories were beneficiaries of the party’s collapse in the last election, in which the NDP lost 17 of its 24 seats, as well as official party status. The then leader Jagmeet Singh resigned after losing his own riding gear.

Polling around 6% federally, the party was dealt another blow earlier this month when MP Lori Idlout defected to the Liberals, leaving it well short of the 12 MPs needed for official party status.

In 2011, under former leader Jack Layton, the party won 103 seats in parliament.

Unlike other federal parties, the NDP has deep ties to its provincial counterparts. Lewis appeared on stage with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, whose NDP party won a strong majority in the province in 2023, and who consistently polls as the country’s most popular premier.

But reactions from some provincial leaders after Lewis’ victory highlighted the challenges he faces in unifying the party. While British Columbia’s NDP Premier David Eby applauded Lewis’ victory, he also noted his government’s goal of increasing jobs in the technology and mining sectors — both industries criticized by Lewis. “Our priority is the upliftment of working people and growth of wealth,” Eby said.

Lewis sought to bolster the party’s environmental credentials, calling for a green energy deal and an export tax placed on oil and gas shipped to the US. He also wants to invest 2% of Canada’s gross domestic product in the fight against the consequences of the climate crisis.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, who has clashed with Lewis over oil and gas development, warned that a perceived ideological shift in the federal party would not be helpful to his provincial version in Alberta.

“It’s clear that the direction of the federal party under this new leader, someone who openly cheered the defeat of the Alberta NDP government, is not in the best interests of Alberta,” he said.

In Saskatchewan, NDP Leader Carla Beck said she refused to meet with Lewis, calling his views “ideological and unrealistic.” She pointed to a video posted by Lewis in which he opposes new pipeline projects.

Interim leader Don Davies said the party was ready to rebuild after a devastating result last April, and told conventioneers he believed voters were worried Carney was becoming increasingly conservative.

“There is something I would like to clarify arising from my speech at the press gallery dinner,” Davies said on Sunday. “I mistakenly said, when Prime Minister Carney played hockey, that he was a goalie. I was mistaken. He is clearly a right winger.”