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Avi Lewis Named Federal NDP Leader

Monday, 30 March 2026 at 06:48

By Marcie Culbert X @marcieculbert

Photo Credit: Avi Lewis Facebook page

Avi Lewis received close to 40,000 of the almost 71,000 ballots at the NDP convention in Winnipeg.

WINNIPEG - The federal New Democratic Party (NDP) has selected its next leader.

Filmmaker Avi Lewis will step into the role, after receiving close to 40,000 of the almost 71,000 ballots cast during the party's convention in Winnipeg over the weekend, beating his four rivals. He was running against union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston, Alberta MP Heather McPherson, and farmer Tony McQuail.

After winning the vote, he told the crowd that Canada needs the NDP now more than ever, because "the cost-of-living emergency is driven by the extreme wealth and power in the hands of the one percent." 

Now that he's party leader, he would like to expand public services and create new ones, like federally run and owned grocery stores. In order to pay for this, he says the party would focus on on increasing corporate and wealth taxes. On the national stage, Lewis says the NDP will stand against the wars in Gaza and Iran in Parliament as well.

However, not everyone is happy to see Lewis at the helm of the federal NDP. The leaders of Alberta and Saskatchewan have since released statements, saying his policies are "not in the interests of Alberta" and would "hurt" Saskatchewan workers. During his victory speech yesterday, Lewis did say there may be disagreements between the federal and provincial wings, but added that it's all part of having a big tent united by core values.

Lewis is stepping into the leadership role following the resignation of Jagmeet Singh. Singh announced that he would be stepping down after last year's election, which saw the NDP lose official party status after securing seven seats total. He served as party leader from 2017 to 2025.

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