Filmmaker, activist, and former journalist Avi Lewis has officially launched his bid to become the next federal leader of the NDP. In a video shared on his Facebook page, Lewis passionately addresses the pressing issues facing Canadians today. He points fingers at corporations, CEOs, free trade agreements, and past federal administrations for the current cost-of-living challenges, asserting that he has a comprehensive plan to address them.
Lewis strongly criticizes free trade deals, attributing the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and Canada’s susceptibility to U.S. pressures to these agreements. While acknowledging the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Lewis emphasizes that the affordability crisis is more profound than just external influences, stating, “Working hard should guarantee a livelihood; however, that’s not the reality we face daily.”
The core of Lewis’s argument lies in the excessive profits reaped by a select group of corporations dominating various sectors of the economy. Without explicitly naming them, he identifies three telecom companies, three major grocery chains, five oil corporations, and the five leading banks as key players responsible for economic inequality. Lewis particularly targets oil and gas CEOs, accusing them of accumulating vast wealth at the expense of the collective future.
Promising a transformative “green new deal” aimed at generating numerous well-paying jobs, Lewis emphasizes the power of the people over corporate interests, stating, “While CEOs represent the money, Canadians represent the multitude.”
In terms of policy proposals, Lewis advocates for a wealth tax, a national cap on rent hikes, a public grocery option, and comprehensive healthcare coverage encompassing everything from medications to mental health services. Meanwhile, NDP MP Heather McPherson and labor leader Rob Ashton are listed as potential leadership contenders on the Elections Canada website, with activist Yves Engler announcing his candidacy.
The newly elected NDP leader faces the monumental task of revitalizing the party following its historic electoral setback. With only seven MPs remaining after the last election, the party lost ground in traditional strongholds like Hamilton and Windsor, Ontario. Former leader Jagmeet Singh’s resignation on election night, after failing to secure his own seat, further compounded the NDP’s challenges. Without the requisite 12 seats for parliamentary recognition, the party must operate without certain privileges, including guaranteed questions in daily sessions and committee participation.
A Vancouver resident, Lewis comes from a distinguished political lineage as the grandson of former federal NDP leader David Lewis and the son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis. Married to author Naomi Klein, he co-authored the Leap Manifesto, advocating for a shift away from fossil fuels and a halt to new infrastructure projects like pipelines, principles that were embraced by the NDP in 2016. With previous electoral experience and a strong ideological background, Lewis’s bid for NDP leadership aims to bring about significant change within the party and the political landscape.