Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) has elected former broadcaster and self-proclaimed socialist Avi Lewis as its new leader, as the party seeks to rebuild following a devastating federal election last year that saw it lose official party status. A record number of members voted in the three-day leadership convention, giving Lewis a first-ballot win that underscored widespread support. Lewis pledged to convert the “tremendous momentum” of the convention into an “NDP comeback”.
The 58-year-old documentary filmmaker and former television host addressed supporters after his victory, vowing to center the party around the pursuit of equity, promising higher wealth taxes, green energy, and tuition-free education. He stated, “We can already hear the howls from the establishment: ‘But how will you pay for all this?’ It is time, far past time, to properly tax the corporations and billionaires that have been riding a tidal wave of profits while the 99% have been suffering and struggling.”
Lewis criticized the moral failings of the governing Liberals, asserting that an NDP government would challenge the dominance of oil companies and “grocery barons” that enjoy billions in profits. However, he faces a daunting set of tasks in rebuilding a party with just six MPs, weak polling numbers, and approximately C$13 million in debt. This effort is likely complicated by his lack of political office experience and absence of a seat in Parliament.
In winning the leadership convention, Lewis defeated MP Heather McPherson, who placed second, union organizer Rob Ashton, British Columbia city councillor Tanille Johnston, and farmer Tony McQuail. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre issued statements congratulating Lewis, saying they looked forward to working with the new leader. Both Carney’s Liberals and the Tories benefited from the NDP’s collapse in the last election, which saw the party lose 17 of its 24 seats and official party status.
Currently polling at about 6% federally, the party was dealt another blow earlier this month when MP Lori Idlout crossed over to the Liberals, leaving it far short of the 12 MPs needed for official party status. In 2011, under former leader Jack Layton, the party won 103 seats in Parliament. Lewis has aimed to bolster the party’s environmental credentials, calling for a green energy deal and an export tax on oil and gas shipped to the US, while also proposing to invest 2% of Canada’s GDP in combating climate crisis effects.
Source: www.theguardian.com