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

Avi Lewis, a former broadcaster and self-proclaimed socialist, was elected leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP) at a leadership convention in Winnipeg. Lewis aims to rebuild the party after it lost official status in the last federal election. He secured a first-ballot win with a record number of members voting. Lewis pledged to focus on equity through higher wealth taxes, green energy, and tuition-free education, while challenging the dominance of corporations. He faces challenges including a small number of MPs, weak polling, and party debt. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre congratulated Lewis and expressed their desire to collaborate.

Avi Lewis, a former journalist and activist, was elected leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP) on Sunday, after the party experienced significant losses in the 2025 federal election. Lewis secured 56% of the vote on the first ballot, defeating four other candidates. He aims to revive the struggling party by focusing on worker rights, ending new oil and gas projects, and exploring state-owned grocery stores. The NDP, which once held the position of main opposition, currently holds only six seats in the House of Commons and is polling at 12% nationally. Despite not holding a seat himself, Lewis will lead the party, facing the challenge of rebuilding its federal presence while provincial NDP parties remain strong in British Columbia and Manitoba.